This road black air-knit gamer by Starter was worn by Joe Thornton during the 1997-98 NHL season, his rookie year. Thornton was the 1st overall draft pick in the 1997 NHL entry draft by the Boston Bruins. Joe began his career in Beantown and played his first 7+ seasons with the club before a trade on November 30th, 2005 sent him packing to San Jose. Thornton has remained a member of the Sharks ever since and is now in his 7th season with the team. Viewed as one of the NHL’s premier players, Joe has averaged better than a point per game thus far in his NHL carerer. Thru the end of the 2010-11 season, Thornton had tabbed 1001 points on the strength of 306 goals in 995 games played. Thornton’s finest season came in 2005-06, the year that he was dealt in-season to San Jose. Joe became the 1st player ever traded during a season to go onto win the scoring title (Art Ross trophy) and the Most Valuable Player Award (Hart Trophy). That season Joe tallied 125 points en route to capturing those prestigious awards. Joe is already a 3-time 1st or 2nd Team NHL All Star and has played in more than a handful of NHL All Star games. Thornton has also represented Team Canada in the World Cup of Hockey as well as the Olympics and was a member of the Gold Medal wining team in 2010.

This amazing 1st set size 56-R gamer by Starter was worn by Thornton as he began his NHL career. As you may well remember, the pressure of being drafted 1st overall and the weighty expectations took their toll on Joe, He had a disappointing rookie season and didn’t tally his first NHL goal until December 3rd 1997 in a game at Philadelphia. Shown above is a beautiful photo match of Joe celebrating his 1st NHL goal in that December 3rd 1997 game in Philadelphia, while wearing this exact jersey! The game wear on this sweater consists of stick and slash marks, board burns, board paint transfer, an un-repaired hole, pulls, inner pilling and a couple of handfuls of team-sewn repairs. On the inside hem is the official Boston Bruins game worn jersey and set information. A simply a tremendous offering, worn by Thornton during the first half of his rookie season and one that is photo matched to his first ever NHL goal. If Thornton should join the all-time greats in the future with an induction to the Hockey Hall Of Fame, this sweater will stand alone in importance. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity, choice!