Thornton, Chara, Keith lead class of 2025 into Hockey Hall of Fame
TORONTO AP Joe Thornton inevitably did things his way Larger than life on the ice and away from the rink the big forward with a radiating personality elite vision soft hands and a sparkling smile has been unapologetically unique ever since stepping into the NHL spotlight at age Now the man affectionately known as Jumbo Joe is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame Thornton was inducted Monday alongside fellow class members Zdeno Chara Duncan Keith Alexander Mogilny Jennifer Botterill and Brianna Decker in the athlete category Jack Parker and Dani le Sauvageau were enshrined as builders Selected first overall at the draft by the Boston Bruins Thornton s trajectory really took off after a business to the San Jose Sharks He spent seasons in California winning the scoring title and Hart Trophy as league MVP in - and was just the third athlete all-time to lead the NHL in assists three straight seasons As long as I can remember my year consisted of going from road hockey right to the backyard rink Thornton reported of his childhood in a tear-filled speech There was only one season for me it was hockey season Thornton topped San Jose in scoring eight times including five straight seasons and helped the Sharks make the Stanley Cup final The -year-old who played NHL seasons and won Olympic gold with Canada in put up points in regular-season games in a career that ended with pit stops with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers He finished th all-time in scoring seventh in assists and sixth in games played Winning the gold medal in Vancouver in was truly electric Thornton noted I remember leaving the arena and I looked to my left and I saw a naked woman on the back of a motorcycle waving a Canadian flag I looked to my pregnant wife and I revealed I am so proud to be Canadian Chara was drafted by the New York Islanders in and traded to the Ottawa Senators in before signing with the Boston Bruins The six-foot-nine blueliner played seasons in Beantown all as captain from through Boston won the Cup in and made the final two other times The second European captain to hoist hockey s holy grail Chara competed at three Olympics and seven world championships He captured the Norris Trophy as the NHL s top defenseman in and finished his career with the Washington Capitals before returning to the Islanders Growing up in small town in Slovakia Trencin you don t dream about nights like this Chara explained You dream about a patch of ice that doesn t melt before we finish practice You dream about finding a stick that s not broken or skates that can still fit for a couple of years Keith played seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks winning the Cup in and The -year-old won Olympic gold for Canada in before topping the podium again in twice claimed the Norris Trophy and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in Keith played one campaign with the Edmonton Oilers before retiring in You can t chase a dream alone he revealed And you can never lift the Cup or wear a gold medal on your own You lift it with everybody that ever lifted you Botterill played for Canada at four Olympics winning three gold medals and a silver She was part of five championship performances and three second-place finishes at the worlds including taking MVP honors in My parents mentioned they dependably knew that the sport of hockey was something special commented the -year-old broadcaster Every time I was on the ice playing they noted they could see my smile through the cage I carried that very same smile throughout my entire career Decker won gold at the Olympics with the U S and owns two silver medals The -year-old forward from Dousman Wisconsin also won the worlds six times along with a couple second-place finishes Hockey has given me so much Decker declared It s given me lifelong friendships unforgettable memories and now this incredible honor The -year-old Sauvageau has taken part in six Olympics either behind the bench or in management for Canada including the country s run to gold as head coach The Montreal-born trailblazer the hall s first female builder is now general manager of the Professional Women s Hockey League s Victoire in her hometown I dreamt of a life that did not exist she mentioned And I have lived a life that I could not imagine Parker led Boston University s men s initiative from through winning three national championships He was also named NCAA coach of the year three times Mogilny who skipped the week of celebrations defected from the Soviet Union to the United States in He set career-highs with goals and points with the - Buffalo Sabres the the greater part ever by a Soviet Russian contestant The -year-old hoisted the Cup with the New Jersey Devils in in a career that included stints with the Leafs and Vancouver Canucks finishing with points in regular-season games I m overwhelmed with gratitude Mogilny declared in a recorded message Not just for this honor but for the incredible journey that brought me here AP NHL https www apnews com hub NHL Source
