He may be a grizzled twenty season veteran of the NHL, but Joe Thornton is looking more like a rookie these days.
After taking more than three years growing out his "lifestyle" beard to a length ZZ Top would be proud off, Thornton shocked the hockey world just one day before the 2018-19 season starts when he showed up for the Sharks practice on Tuesday with a clean-shaven face.
Rumors first began to swirl Monday night that it was an end to an era when fellow pogonophile Brent Burns posted pictures of a trimmed - but not fully shaved - Thornton.
Those rumors were quickly confirmed on Tuesday, and the hockey world responded on social media. The only thing not confirmed, is if Burns provided a hot towel treatment after.End of an era ... start of something special! Lets get it going again 💪 pic.twitter.com/U4yJVxbqKh
— Brent Burns (@Burnzie88) October 2, 2018
Thats the guy i was introduced to 12 years ago 😀👍 https://t.co/sAtVL9TikO
— Marc-Édouard Vlasic (@Vlasic44) October 2, 2018
When you hear Joe Thornton shaved his beard. pic.twitter.com/f3O6ViosJX
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) October 2, 2018
It’s gone!!! pic.twitter.com/WCnSkGXIll
— Joe Pavelski (@jpav8) October 2, 2018
Younger, faster, stronger, lighter! What a start to the season 🔥 pic.twitter.com/bqlKDgk7m5
— Evander Kane (@evanderkane_9) October 2, 2018
Beardless Jumbo. End of an era pic.twitter.com/EmLhmR5CVy
— Kevin Kurz (@KKurzNHL) October 2, 2018
Welp. pic.twitter.com/d28MbKu6WD
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) October 2, 2018
One fan to Thornton: "Like a newborn!" pic.twitter.com/zNbU3cZpi4
— Marcus White (@marcuspwhite) October 2, 2018
Nazem Kadri on Joe Thornton shaving his beard: “I don’t think he wanted that situation to happen again.”
— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) October 2, 2018