About Shawn

Shawn Thornton is a professional hockey player for the Boston Bruins. Originally from Oshawa, Ontario, Shawn began his career in the National Hockey League at the age of 19 as a draft to the Toronto Maple Leafs. After moving to the Chicago Blackhawks for 3 seasons, Shawn made his way to Anaheim where he won his first Stanley Cup Championship with the Ducks. Shortly after, Shawn signed with the Boston Bruins where he continues to be a key player for the black and gold. In 2011, he helped lead the team to a championship season and bring the Stanley Cup back to Boston for the first time in 39 years.

Since moving to Boston in 2007 Shawn has taken on a very active role in the community, becoming a fan favorite of many local residents. He is no stranger to public or media appearances and is extremely involved in the charitable world. He regularly visits local hospitals, sits on the board for a variety of charity events, and is a spokesperson for Athletes for Heroes, a program that supports the children of fallen or severely injured soldiers. In 2009 Shawn received the John P. Bucyk Award which honors the Bruins player who has contributed the most to charitable and community endeavors.

After losing his grandmother to a 14 year battle with Parkinson’s and hearing the touching stories of so many cancer patients and their families during his hospital visits, Shawn was inspired to take the next step in his charitable efforts. He founded The Shawn Thornton Foundation with the mission to help cure life-threatening diseases, specifically Parkinson’s and cancer. As the Foundation’s President and Director, Shawn works with his board of directors to improve the quality of life for patients and their families through various events and fundraising efforts. Shawn feels extremely fortunate for the support he has received throughout the years and looks forward to continuing to give back to the community that has always supported him.