MIDDLETON — Anyone who has watched a Boston Bruins game over the past few years knows that nobody wearing a Black-and-Gold sweater shows more heart than Shawn Thornton.
The hard-nosed left winger never hesitates to knuckle up and drop the gloves when his team is in need. What many might not know is that Thornton's heart and determination extends beyond the ice and boards.
Yesterday at the Ferncroft Country Club in Middleton, Thornton once again proved that adage that often times the meaner the player on the ice, the nicer the guy off of it.
Thornton and the Boston Bruins Foundation hosted the first annual "Putts and Punches for Parkinson's" charity golf tournament to raise money for the American Parkinson Disease Association. Fans donated $1,600 per foursome for 18 holes of golf followed by dinner, a raffle and a silent auction featuring priceless Bruins, Red Sox and Celtics memorabilia.
"(Thornton) is a real nice guy — but I think I saw him throw the club a couple of times, so he gets some of that (aggression) out here, too," joked Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask in the Ferncroft clubhouse afterward. "It's great to see him having this type of tournament to raise money for a good cause."
Along with Rask and Thornton, Bruins left wing and fan favorite Milan Lucic was out on the links yesterday — and all three were a big hit for those in attendance.
"It was a great time and a great tournament for a fantastic organization," said Kenneth Russell, a 50-year-old Charlestown resident who lives near Thornton. "Shawn is a nice guy and a terrific neighbor. (Thornton, Lucic and Rask) are real down to earth guys when you get a chance to meet them."
The APDA is located at Boston Medical Center, services the entire state and has support groups in Peabody, Beverly and Salem among many other cities. APDA coordinator and nurse Cathi Thomas was thrilled with yesterday's turnout and the hard work that was put into the event.
"We are so grateful to the (Boston Bruins) Foundation and Shawn Thornton for selecting our charity and putting on such a fabulous event," said Thomas. "I just met him and he was really really nice."
Thomas' colleague, Laurie-Jo Tullis, whose husband has Parkinson's disease, shared Thomas' appreciation.
"I think its great what (Thornton) is doing here today. We need to get the awareness out there," commented Tullis.
Thornton himself was all smiles after the tournament — and not just because the 33-year-old from Ontario won the day's Longest Drive competition. Thornton's grandmother, who passed away 18 months ago, had been afflicted Parkinson's.
"She had it for 14 years so (Parkinson's) is something that hits close to home for me," said Thornton. "I spread it around pretty good as far as charity goes, but when we were getting a golf tournament going the (APDA) was the charity I wanted to do it for."
Selecting the charity wasn't the only easy decision Thornton made when putting the tournament together, considering both he and Boston Bruins Foundation President (and former player) Bob Sweeney are members at the Ferncroft Country Club.
"The guys here (at Ferncroft) are awesome and the course is fun. There was no second option, actually; as long as they would have us, we were going it here," said Thornton. "Luckily the weather cooperated; it was great all day. I'm just glad it is finally here."
Rask and Lucic played with different foursomes and hung around afterward signing autographs and taking pictures for grateful fans.
"Lucic and Tuukka are both good friends of mine and I really appreciate them showing up," said Thornton. "They're both a bigger draw than I am, so I really appreciate them showing up. They'll probably help (raise money) more so than anything."
Leo Gallagher, a fire fighter from Franklin, played with Rask and was pleasantly surprised by the goalie's good nature.
"He's a good kid, seems like a regular guy," said Gallagher. "Plus he golfed at the level we did: just over par."
Sweeney, who admittedly did not have his best day on the course, was very pleased with the tournament and all the work that Thornton put into it. He felt that for all involved-from the fans who opened their wallets for a good cause, to the players and the people at the Ferncroft-the event was a success.
"I didn't have my 'A' game but that's all right; everyone had a good time and that's the main goal," said Sweeney. "We raised some good money and Shawn did a great job soliciting some of the sponsors. We are always happy to help out our players."
