Photo Rights: GOJHL Website
As the puck drops on the 2025 Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League Western Conference Championship Series, the league has announced a fitting tribute to one of Southwestern Ontario’s most iconic hockey figures.
The championship trophy awarded to the Western Conference playoff winner will now be known as the Joe Thornton Trophy.
This year, the St. Marys Lincolns and Chatham Maroons will become the first teams to compete for the newly renamed honour, with the Championship Series kicking off tonight in St. Marys.
Upon learning the news, Thornton shared his appreciation and memories:
“Wow! The Joe Thornton Trophy! What an honor, but it also has a nice ring to it,” he said. “I remember the joy I felt with the guys when we won the Western Championship Cup back in the day. It puts a smile on my face today and makes me think of so many of my teammates along my hockey journey. I can’t wait to see who wins the Joe Thornton Cup for the first time and I hope that 30 years from now, those boys will look back to winning with a smile on their faces. Peace & Love.”
Born and raised in St. Thomas, Thornton’s roots in the region run deep. He began making waves in the hockey world as a 14-year-old with the St. Thomas Stars, racking up 8 points in 6 games during the 1993-94 season. A year later, he notched an incredible 104 points and was named Western League Rookie of the Year while helping the Stars capture a Western League championship.
From there, his path to stardom continued with the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL, where he earned CHL and OHL Rookie of the Year honours in 1995-96. He later helped Team Canada win gold at the 1997 World Juniors before being selected 1st overall by the Boston Bruins in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.
Thornton went on to enjoy a remarkable 24-season NHL career with the Bruins, Sharks, Maple Leafs, and Panthers, amassing 1,539 points in 1,714 games—ranking 14th and 6th all-time in those categories, respectively. He was the NHL’s Most Valuable Player in 2005-06, winning both the Art Ross and Hart Memorial trophies, and was a member of Canada’s gold medal-winning team at the 2010 Olympics.
Now, the next generation of junior hockey players will chase a championship named in his honour—forever connecting Joe Thornton’s legacy to the roots where it all began.
Written by: K. Freeman
