A new series from Kings GM Emile Lakatos! Let's get to know more about the Sabres GM Ian Thornton and see what makes him tick.
As a kid growing up:
Favourite NHL team: Pittsburgh Penguins
Favourite NHL player: Mario Lemieux (although my Penguins jersey as a kid was Rod Buskas as he wore my number 7!).
Favourite moment/moments: Watching Mario score the winning goal in the 1987 Canada Cup. I still remember where I was for that epic game - babysitting some neighbours kids and was watching the game by myself.
Being in high school in a suburb of Ottawa when it was announced Ottawa was successful in securing an NHL franchise. Attending the Peter Lee Hockey School as a kid with Pittsburgh players Mike Bullard, Randy Cunneyworth and Peter Lee as staff. Collecting and completing the O-Pee-Chee hockey card sets in the 1980s.
As an Adult:
Profession: Prosthodontist (dental specialist) in the Canadian Armed Forces.
Married/kids: Yes and Yes (2 girls - 19 and 17; one boy - 14).
Has your favourite NHL team as a kid changed: Yes. I now jointly cheer for Ottawa (where I grew up) from the moment they secured a team and Edmonton (my current hometown team).
Favourite moment/moments as an Adult: Watching the Canada Olympic team win the gold medal in 2010 and 2014 with my kids. Watching my daughter get to skate in the warm-ups of 2 Vancouver Canucks games. Watching my brother win the Beanpot live in 1995 and then the NCAA Championships later that same season while a member of the Boston University hockey team.
I was at a charity game in St. Albert (a suburb of Edmonton) for an RCMP officer that was killed in the line of duty. There were about 5000 people in the stands watching the RCMP play against a group of Oiler alumni and CAF members when it was announced that the Oilers had won the McDavid sweepstakes.
The stands erupted with people cheering, high-fiving and generally just being pumped about the team. It was there where I realized the passion that exists in Oiler fans and jumped on that bandwagon.
Favourite TV Show(s): Ted Lasso, Yellowstone, Outlander, Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Suits, Succession, Friday Night Lights and Survivor.
Favourite Movie(s): Shawshank Redemption, Good Will Hunting, Field of Dreams, Slapshot, The Hangover, The Band of Brothers miniseries, Serendipity.
Other sports you watch? Favourite team or teams? Favourite player(s) in other sports:
Will watch pretty much any sport but, besides hockey, currently enjoy NFL football, March Madness, the Majors in both golf and tennis, Premiership soccer and curling (Brier/Scotties).
Seattle Seahawks (favourite players were Steve Largent, Brian Bosworth, Marshawn Lynch and Russell Wilson). Toronto Raptors (favourite player was Vince Carter). English National Soccer Team.
If you could change just one thing in the world, what would it be? It is a toss-up: improve general tolerances between countries, religions and/or political parties, or remove Donald Trump and his "allies" from the political landscape forever.
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