Color of Hockey: Thorns seeks post as NHL's first Black equipment manager

William Douglas has been writing The Color of Hockey blog for the past nine years. Douglas joined NHL.com in March 2019 and writes about people of color in the sport. Today, as part of the NHL's celebration of Black History Month, he profiles Shawn Thorns, head equipment manager for Greenville of the ECHL and one of the few people of color in North American professional hockey to hold that position.

Shawn Thorns got his big break into professional hockey courtesy of a knee injury.
The 26-year-old Charleston, South Carolina, native tore the meniscus in his left knee playing goalie in his teens. A friend who worked for South Carolina of the ECHL knew Thorns was restless hobbling around at home and gave him an invitation.
"He said, 'Hey, I know you're probably bored out of your mind, do you want to come down and clean visors just to get out of the house?'" Thorns said. "That's how it all started."
Thorns is now head equipment manager for the Florida Panthers' ECHL affiliate in Greenville, South Carolina, and one of the few people of color to hold that position in North American professional hockey.
Like the players he cares for, Thorns wants to take his talents to the NHL.
"That's the end goal, I just want to make it to the NHL," Thorns said. "I know there are steps. I did one year in the Southern Professional Hockey League. This is my fourth year in the [ECHL]. I'm coming up on 300 professional games in a couple of weeks and I feel that's a pretty big accomplishment, too."
Thorns' job is a never-ending dawn 'til dusk cycle of skate sharpening, equipment repairs, sewing, laundering game and practice jerseys, packing, loading, hauling, unpacking, locker room cleaning and ordering supplies from stick tape to bubble gum.
"It's constant work but there's not one thing I dislike about it," Thorns said. "I just like the fact that I'm in control of a lot of things. I like the pressure, basically. Everything is on me."

The pandemic has added another layer of responsibility for Thorns and equipment managers throughout hockey: helping to prevent the spread of the coronavirus among players and personnel.
"Last season, he was the one wearing the backpack with the disinfectant spray, spraying the locker room and showers," said Andrew Lord, who has been Greenville's coach since 2020. "It was an uncertain time with the pandemic, and we had a new ownership group, and all the staff was brand new. 'Thornsy' was the one guy that was here and helpful on Day One. He's literally all-in, do anything you ask. He takes care of the boys so well."
Thorns said he fell in love with hockey shortly after he began skating in 2010. He gravitated to goaltending because he loved the equipment and soon became the starting goalie for his high school team in Goose Creek, South Carolina.
He initially thought helping out in South Carolina's locker room was just something to kill time when he was recuperating from his knee injury.
"But as time went on, I got off the crutches, things got more hands-on," he said. "I was doing bench setup, water bottles, things of that nature. More responsibility."
When Cameron Parker became South Carolina's new equipment manager in 2016, he asked Thorns what his goals were.
"At first, I was, like, 'It's kind of a hobby, I don't know if I want to do it, but I love doing it,'" Thorns said. "And he said, 'If you want to do it, I'll teach you everything you want to know.'"
Thorns said Parker became a mentor, but Parker recalls the relationship as a two-way learning experience.
"He was there for a long time, so I picked his brain about how things were done in Charleston," said Parker, now an equipment assistant with the Washington Capitals. "And he picked up things from me -- how I organized stalls, budgeting, ordering. We kind of helped each other along the way."
Thorns landed his first head equipment job with Macon of the SPHL in 2017-18, and worked alongside Leo Thomas, one of the few Black coaches in pro hockey.
Thorns followed Macon coach Kevin Kerr when Greenville hired him in 2018. Thomas was promoted as Kerr's replacement and became the first Black coach in the SPHL. He wanted Thorns to remain as Macon's equipment manager but knew the step up to the ECHL was the right one for his friend.
"Even to this day, Leo is, like, 'You're going to make it, man, you're going to make the NHL,'" Thorns said.

Thorns said he was pleasantly surprised when Kahlil Thomas, Leo's brother, joined Greenville's coaching staff. He's the father of forward Akil Thomas, who was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round (No. 51) of the 2018 NHL Draft and is playing for Ontario of the American Hockey League.
During a visit with his father, Akil Thomas was so impressed by Thorns' work, he recommended him for an equipment assistant position with Ontario.
He didn't get the job, but Ontario general manager Richard Seeley said he was "impressed by Shawn and his work ethic."
"We believe he has a bright future ahead of him in our game," he said.
So does Parker, who said he thinks it's only a matter of time before Thorns achieves his NHL dream.
"For me, I just needed a chance and I got one with the Caps," Parker said. "And it's the same thing for Shawn and some guys in the minors. All they need is a chance, and they'll thrive."
Photos: Brian Stone