Following a 24-year career in the NHL, Joe Thornton’s former teammates shared what made him so special off the ice.
Thornton, 45, had his jersey retired by the San Jose Sharks — who Thornton played 15 seasons for from 2005 to 2020 — on Saturday, November 23, which featured tributes from many of his closest friends and peers.
In particular, Douglas Murray — who played eight seasons together with Thornton in San Jose — told a surprising story about his former teammate’s generosity.
“I got a phone call three years into my career,” Murray, 44, recalled in a video message. “I was asked to come and help move a family. I drive to the address and they’re moving into a two-bedroom apartment in San Jose. And I’m like, ‘Who’s living here? We traded for a player or something?’”
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Murray continued, “No, it’s a mom with two kids. She was homeless and she needed a place to stay.”
At the time, Murray remembered Thornton saying, “You can’t tell anybody about this.”
“It’s been such a long time ago, so now I’m going to break the trust and tell everybody about this,” Murray said. “There it was. Nobody knew.”
Murray became emotional as he recounted the gesture by Thornton all these years later.
“Homeless mom, two kids,” Murray added, while fighting back tears. “Nobody ever knew. That’s who they are.”
Thornton and his wife, Tabea Pfendsack, have been married since 2009 and share daughter Ayla, 14, and son River, 11.
The entire Thornton family was on hand for the poignant, sometimes raucous, ceremony inside San Jose’s SAP Center.
When it was time for Thornton to take the microphone, the hockey star — who also spent time with the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers before announcing his retirement in October 2023 — the St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada native couldn’t help but marvel at his surroundings.
“I never thought I’d live in California,” Thornton joked. “Honestly, it was just a dream. Growing up, I loved the Beach Boys and talked about, you know, California dreamin’. I just think I was in love with California, and here I am right now.”
Thornton ended his speech — which also included shoutouts to longtime teammates Joe Pavelski and Patrick Marleau — with a nod to the hockey faithful in San Jose.
“Thank you, Sharks fans,” Thornton said, “and like I said when I retired, ‘I’ll see you at the rink.’ Peace and love. Go Sharks.”
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