Retired Florida Panthers star Shawn Thornton's last game-used skates are up for auction on eBay.
Thornton took his skates off for the last time at the end of Florida's season, but elected to not keep them as a memento. Instead, the veteran winger tossed the skates into a nearby trash bin. Rather than let a piece of history go to waste, arena staff saved the skates and listed them on the auction website.
Shawn Thornton said he would toss skates in the trash after final NHL game - and there they are. pic.twitter.com/B2DBNn04Vc — George Richards (@GeorgeRichards) April 9, 2017
All proceeds from the sale of the skates will go to Thronton's foundation and bidding has already hit $910. With a day to go, it is likely that the skates will fetch a total north of $1,000. While Thornton may not have been a household name in some areas, he still had memorable moments during his long career.
"The Shawn Thornton Foundation is dedicated to helping find cures for diseases close to Shawn's heart, specifically, Parkinson's and cancer. The Foundation will work towards this mission by raising awareness, funding innovative research and helping to relieve the burden and improve the quality of life for patients and their families," a note explains on ThorntonFoundation.org.
When he announced his intentions to retire, Thornton also stated that he would take a job in Florida's front office. That role has not been officially announced yet, but should be at some point in the off-season. While some former players go into coaching or roster management, Thornton is expected to serve in a business capacity.
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In his three seasons with Florida, Thornton amassed four of his 42 career NHL goals. Scoring was not in Thornton's job description however, as he served as an enforcer for the Panthers. In a lot of ways, Thornton brought back memories of the old look of hockey. The 39-year old found himself in the penalty box after fights often and his leadership may be missed on a young Florida squad next season.
The auction is scheduled to end on Tuesday evening.
