Bruins Fan Can’t Utter a Word When She Meets Favorite Player Shawn Thornton

Editor’s note: NESN.com is asking Bruins fans to share their favorite Shawn Thornton memory. Siobhan Healy of Halifax, Mass., shares this memory.

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.