Brian's Celebrity Blog: 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist: Joe Thornton

Joe Thornton, also known as Jumbo Joe, is the captain of the San Jose Sharks of the NHL.

Thornton played major junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds for two seasons, beginning in 1995-96. He posted a 76-point season as a rookie earning him the Emms Family Award as the OHL's top first-year player, as well as CHL Rookie of the Year honours. The following season, in 1996-97, Thornton improved to 41 goals and 122 points, finishing second overall in league scoring behind Marc Savard of the Oshawa Generals, and was named to the OHL Second All-Star Team.

After his second OHL season, Thornton was drafted first overall in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins. He continued to build as a key player in the Bruins' lineup, culminating in his appointment as team captain in 2002-03. Many people feel that Robbie Ftorek gave Thornton the .C. too early. Regardless, Thornton re-signed with the team on August 11, 2005, to a three-year deal worth US$20 million.

In the midst of another career year, the Bruins were, however struggling in the standing and on November 30, 2005, Thornton was traded to the San Jose Sharks in a blockbuster four-player deal, which sent forwards Marco Sturm and Wayne Primeau and defenceman Brad Stuart to Boston. Thornton was the team's leading scorer at the time by a substantial margin.

Upon arriving in San Jose, Thornton improved the Sharks' fortunes and found instant chemistry with winger Jonathan Cheechoo. Tallying 92 points in 58 games with the Sharks since the trade, Thornton helped Cheechoo to a Rocket Richard Trophy-winning season with 56 goals, while he would himself lead the NHL with 96 assists and 125 points total to earn the Art Ross Trophy as the league'S top scorer, the first player to do so the same season he was traded.

In September 2009, before the start of the 2009-10 NHL season, the Sharks acquired Dany Heatley in a blockbuster 3-player trade that sent former line mate Jonathan Cheechoo, left winger Milan Michalek and a 2nd round pick to the Ottawa Senators. Thornton, Heatley, and Marleau had instant chemistry and earned the nickname, the "Team Canada Line," in reference to the three being expected to and playing together on a line in the Olympics that year, winning a gold medal for Team Canada.

I saw Joe a couple of times in Montreal. I hear he used to be a tough signer, but I guess things changed. He signed each time I saw him. I ended up getting all of my things signed by him, including my 16x20.