Over 900 NHL games. 17 seasons. Teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, and San Jose Sharks. But Scott Thornton’s story didn’t end when the arena lights went out.

Scott Thornton is a former NHL forward who played 17 seasons across more than 900 games, known for his relentless work ethic, leadership, and toughness. Since retiring, he’s reinvented himself as a gym owner, investor, spa shareholder, and co-creator of the Valor hockey helmet—the first five-star safety-rated helmet on the market. Beyond business, Scott has competed in Battle of the Blades, tackled motocross and ultra marathons, and embraced life after hockey with a beginner’s mindset. Today, he joins Tom Swales on Staying Relevant to share what it really means to thrive beyond professional sports.

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Scott reveals:

▫️ How to find your identity and purpose after a professional sports career

▫️ Why embracing fear and discomfort leads to the biggest rewards

▫️ The mindset to handle injuries and setbacks—even a motocross crash and 17 surgeries

▫️ How to innovate and bring new ideas to market, like the Valor hockey helmet

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⏱ Timestamps

05:15 The beginner’s mindset: curiosity > ego

08:30 Battle of the Blades & skating for charity

16:00 Motocross crash & the long road back from injury

23:20 Training evolution after 17 surgeries

46:00 Discovering a new identity beyond the NHL

47:30 Scandinave Spa: leadership lessons & surviving COVID

56:00 Advice for athletes nearing retirement

1:03:00 New projects: Valor helmet & the fight for safety

1:06:00 What staying relevant means to Scott Thornton

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Follow Scott Thornton:

📸 Instagram – @Thorty27

𝕏 Twitter – @Thorty27

🏒 Valor Hockey – valorhockey.com

🌐 NHL Profile – Scott Thornton

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Sponsor — The AMT Certification

This episode is brought to you by the Advanced Movement Therapist (AMT) System — the neuro-centred certification that helps clinicians and performance coaches solve the root cause of pain and accelerate client results.

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