Over the intercom, you could hear the name faintly. Some people just ignored the announcement, but for me it was a frantic game of find Shawn Thornton. A few moments later there he was, right in front of me.
Now the excitement I had was almost uncontrollable. It may have been a different story if I wasn’t a 20-year-old college student, but then again how often do you get to see your favorite Bruin? When I finally got to talk to him, I froze and all I could do was smile and ask for a picture. Shawn willingly took the picture and signed an autograph.
After walking away I could feel my heart pounding and then reality hit me. I didn’t say a word! I had blown my chance to talk to him, but it was also in that moment I realized, how many professional athletes do that? From that day on, my respect and love for No. 22 grew not only as a hockey player, but as a person.
Flash forward to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. All I could do was wait for No. 22 to get the Cup and hoist it over his head. In the moment, I felt as though that was him holding the Cup for everyone that has ever believed in him. That was one of those moments I will absolutely never forget.
