“It's fun playing against world-class players. It makes you compete harder.”

Canadian former professional ice hockey centre

Joseph Eric Thornton is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. He played in the NHL for the Boston Bruins, San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers, and was selected first overall by Boston in the 1997 NHL entry draft. Thornton spent seven seasons with the Bruins, including three as captain, before being traded to San Jose during the 2005 to 06 season. That year he won the Art Ross Trophy and the Hart Memorial Trophy after splitting the season between two teams, and he later played 14 more seasons with the Sharks, serving as captain for four of them and helping them reach the 2016 Stanley Cup Finals.