Thornton performs: The San Jose Sharks gave a Jumbo welcome to their Hall of Famer.
Joe Thornton performed the ceremonial puck drop in honor of his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame before the team’s game against the Los Angeles Kings at SAP Center on Thursday.
Sharks fans gave Thorton a standing ovation as he walked out onto the ice accompanied by his wife, Tabea, his son, River, and daughter, Ayla.
Joe Thornton, who sported his Hall of Fame jacket, became emotional and wiped away tears when he reached center ice.
“I cry at everything now, Kopi. I cry at everything,” Thornton told Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar in a video posted by the Sharks.
The retired forward then dropped the puck between Kopitar and Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini.
Celebrini has lived with the Thornton family since last season.
Before the game, the Sharks wore special T-shirts in honor of their former star.
Last week, Thornton was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025 alongside Zdeno Chara, Duncan Keith, Jennifer Botterill, Brianna Decker and Alexander Mogilny.
Thornton played 15 of his 24 NHL seasons with the Sharks. He also played for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers.
