For the second straight year, the Hall of Fame is calling for San Jose Sharks legend Joe Thornton. Ironically, a year after he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, he'll finally be enshrined in the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame.
The Mercury News reported that Thornton will be joined by former United States Women's National Team soccer player and Bay FC co-owner Leslie Osborne, water polo player Brenda Villa and basketball coach Mike Montgomery.
Thornton, 47, played for the Sharks for a decade and a half while establishing him as one of the best players in franchise history. He also captained the team for four seasons as well. In 1,104 games with the team in teal, he scored 251 goals, 804 assists, a franchise record, and 1,055 points, the second-most in Sharks history.
Since retiring from the NHL, Thornton has been around the Sharks organization a considerable amount over the past few seasons, helping mentor young players like Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. Last season, he served as both a development coach and as a team consultant.
Thornton is the first hockey player inducted into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame since 2023, when Patrick Marleau was inducted. Thornton also joins notable Sharks legends such as Arturs Irbe, Evgeni Nabokov, Doug Wilson, Owen Nolan, and inaugural Sharks owner George Gund III.
It seemed like just a matter of time for Thornton to get inducted into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame, and now he'll receive a plaque at the SAP Center to acknowledge his time in teal.
