Associated press

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Joe Thornton spent a career preparing his teammates with the perfect passes that helped them score goals.

His farewell ceremony on Saturday was an opportunity for his former San Jose teammates to share kudos for his play, leadership and friendship in tributes that repeatedly forced him to wipe away tears on an emotional afternoon.

“The best thing hockey has ever given me: friends for life,” Thornton said during a lengthy speech that included thanking his former teammates, coaches, executives and family members who helped him throughout his career.

Thornton walked to the ceremony dressed neatly in a black suit and top hat. He walked past current members of the Sharks – wearing fake beards in his honor – before passing through the famous Shark Head to thunderous applause.

Dozens of his former teammates were in attendance and paid tribute to the player known simply as ‘Jumbo’ in a lengthy video.

“It feels good to be back,” Thornton said.

With his precise passing, infectious joy and signature beard, Thornton became the face of the Sharks franchise and was honored with his No. 19 jersey elevated to the rafters.

Thornton joins longtime teammate Patrick Marleau as the only players to have their jerseys retired by the Sharks. It’s fitting that they stand side by side as they entered the NHL as the top two picks in the 1997 draft and spent thirteen seasons together in San Jose.

“Thank you for making hockey fun, even in the toughest moments,” Marleau said in his tribute. “I am very grateful and honored that your banner will be placed next to mine.”

Thornton came to the NHL as the No. 1 overall pick out of Boston, but had his greatest success in 15 seasons with San Jose after a trade to the Sharks on November 30, 2005.

Thornton ranks first in Sharks history with 804 assists, second with 1,055 points, third with 1,104 games played and fourth with 251 goals. He helped transform the Sharks from a mediocre franchise to a perennial contender.

“San Jose is his city and the Sharks are his team,” former teammate Joe Pavelski said during his first public appearance on the Shark Tank since retiring last season in Dallas.

Thornton played 1,714 regular season games throughout his career, recording 1,109 assists and 430 goals. He was a four-time All-Star, Olympic gold medalist for Canada in 2010 and won the Hart Trophy as MVP and Art Ross Trophy as scoring leader in 2005-06 after being traded from Boston to San Jose early that season.

Thornton ranks seventh all-time in assists, 14th in points with 1,539 and sixth in games played.

About the only thing Thornton didn’t accomplish was win a Stanley Cup, losing in his lone trip to the final round in 2016 with the Sharks against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

But with his impeccable playing schools and iconic beard, Thornton became the face of the Sharks franchise after being acquired from Boston on November 30, 2005.

San Jose had only intermittent success before his arrival, but made the playoffs all but two seasons during Thornton’s time with the Sharks with the best regular season record in the NHL during that span.

He helped the team win the Presidents’ Trophy as the team with the best record in 2008–09, back-to-back appearances in the conference finals in 2010 and ’11, the Stanley Cup Final in 2016 and another trip to the Western Conference finals. in 2019.

“Thank you, Sharks fans,” Thornton said in closing his speech, “and like I said when I retired, ‘I’ll see you at the rink. Peace and love. Go sharks. ”

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