---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've been a hockey fan since '84, probably."
description: "\"I've been a hockey fan since '84, probably.\" — Joe Thornton"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/joe-thornton-5006_been_i-ve-been-a-hockey-fan-since-84-probably_2603220.png"
---

#  I've been a hockey fan since '84, probably.

![“I've been a hockey fan since '84, probably.” quote by Joe Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/joe-thornton-5006_been_i-ve-been-a-hockey-fan-since-84-probably_2603220.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/joe-thornton-5006_been_i-ve-been-a-hockey-fan-since-84-probably_2603220.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/joe-thornton-5006_been_i-ve-been-a-hockey-fan-since-84-probably_2603220.png)

> “I've been a hockey fan since '84, probably.”

[Joe Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-thornton/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A casual claim of lifelong fandom shows humor and modesty.

**In simple terms:** He jokes about being a fan since 1984.

Key Takeaway

Embrace playful honesty.

Themes

sports humor identity

Mood

playful casual

Type

personal humorous

When to use this quote

- sports commentary
- personal branding
- fan events

Key Concepts

fanhood nostalgia humor

Questions to Reflect On

- How does humor shape your sports identity?
- Do you share this joke?

A Different Perspective

Humor may mask deeper passion.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[84 Probably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/84-probably-1963055/) [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Fan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fan/) [Hockey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hockey/) [Hockey fan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hockey-fan/) [Probably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/probably/) [Since](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/since/) [Ve Hockey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ve-hockey-1963056/)

## Related quotes

> [The biggest thing for me is the passion that I've always had for hockey. I remember growing up, no matter what I did in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-crosby/the-biggest-thing-for-me-is-the-passion-that-i-ve-always-had-for/)

[Sidney Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-crosby/)

> [I'm not a hockey fan. I'm not a golf fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-marshall/i-m-not-a-hockey-fan-i-m-not-a-golf-fan/)

[Penny Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-marshall/)

> [I am a huge hockey fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serinda-swan/i-am-a-huge-hockey-fan/)

[Serinda Swan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serinda-swan/)

> [Obviously, being a hockey fan, I always bought all of the hockey games, so that makes this 'NHL 2K7' cover even more special to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thornton/obviously-being-a-hockey-fan-i-always-bought-all-of-the-hockey-games/)

[Joe Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-thornton/)

> [I love to play hockey. I'm a huge hockey fan and I love to play as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-beaumon/i-love-to-play-hockey-i-m-a-huge-hockey-fan-and-i-love-to-play-as-well/)

[Sterling Beaumon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-beaumon/)

> [I always played hockey, I was always a hockey fan, but I was never bitten by the hockey bug... I never looked into playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jericho/i-always-played-hockey-i-was-always-a-hockey-fan-but-i-was-never/)

[Chris Jericho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jericho/)

> [By the age of 18, the average American has witnessed 200,000 acts of violence on television, most of them occurring during Game 1 of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rushin/by-the-age-of-18-the-average-american-has-witnessed-200-000-acts-of/)

[Steve Rushin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rushin/)

> [Sometimes people ask, 'Are hockey fights real?' I say, 'If they weren't, I'd get in more of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/sometimes-people-ask-are-hockey-fights-real-i-say-if-they-weren-t-i-d/)

[Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/)

> [Half the game is mental, the other half is being mental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mckenny/half-the-game-is-mental-the-other-half-is-being-mental/)

[Jim McKenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mckenny/)

> [Its an honor to be chosen to represent the best hockey game in the world,... Hockey fans are looking for the most authentic experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-boitano/its-an-honor-to-be-chosen-to-represent-the-best-hockey-game-in-the/)

[Brian Boitano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-boitano/)

> [I'm a big hockey fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-ford/i-m-a-big-hockey-fan/)

[Rob Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-ford/)

> [I'm not a hockey fan, which is probably why I had to leave Canada in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-reynolds/i-m-not-a-hockey-fan-which-is-probably-why-i-had-to-leave-canada-in/)

[Ryan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-reynolds/)

> [L.A. will never be a hockey town. I'm a huge hockey fan, and people out here do not appreciate hockey as much as they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-bilodeau/l-a-will-never-be-a-hockey-town-i-m-a-huge-hockey-fan-and-people-out/)

[Jean-Luc Bilodeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-bilodeau/)

> [Street hockey is great for kids. It's energetic, competitive, and skilful. And best of all, it keeps them off the street.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kyle/street-hockey-is-great-for-kids-it-s-energetic-competitive-and/)

[Gus Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kyle/)

> [Canadian hockey fans... They boo me every time I go anywhere. Because I play for Team USA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-hull/canadian-hockey-fans-they-boo-me-every-time-i-go-anywhere-because-i/)

[Brett Hull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-hull/)

## More by Joe Thornton

> [Obviously, when you don't win, things have to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thornton/obviously-when-you-don-t-win-things-have-to-change/)

[Joe Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-thornton/)

> [You need somebody to be firm with you and hard on you and watch you progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thornton/you-need-somebody-to-be-firm-with-you-and-hard-on-you-and-watch-you/)

[Joe Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-thornton/)

> [As I get older, I think I'm going to continue to be a better player and a better captain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thornton/as-i-get-older-i-think-i-m-going-to-continue-to-be-a-better-player/)

[Joe Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-thornton/)

> [Growing up, I wanted to play with the bigger kids, so having two brothers, you had to stick your nose in there and try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thornton/growing-up-i-wanted-to-play-with-the-bigger-kids-so-having-two/)

[Joe Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-thornton/)

> [I really do enjoy coming to the rink and working hard, putting the time in as you need when you get older. But the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thornton/i-really-do-enjoy-coming-to-the-rink-and-working-hard-putting-the/)

[Joe Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-thornton/)

> [I hate when people litter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thornton/i-hate-when-people-litter/)

[Joe Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-thornton/)

> [Every day, just enjoy it. It goes by so fast. But put the work in and you'll be rewarded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thornton/every-day-just-enjoy-it-it-goes-by-so-fast-but-put-the-work-in-and/)

[Joe Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-thornton/)

> [Being in hockey shape is totally different than any other kind of fitness. You can run and bike and work out all summer and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thornton/being-in-hockey-shape-is-totally-different-than-any-other-kind-of/)

[Joe Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-thornton/)

> [I want to be captain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thornton/i-want-to-be-captain/)

[Joe Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-thornton/)

> [I know I'm a great player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thornton/i-know-i-m-a-great-player/)

[Joe Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-thornton/)

> [Leadership comes a little bit easier with age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thornton/leadership-comes-a-little-bit-easier-with-age/)

[Joe Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-thornton/)

> [To have the luxury of passing to two goal-scorers is something I enjoy. You look forward to coming to the rink because you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thornton/to-have-the-luxury-of-passing-to-two-goal-scorers-is-something-i/)

[Joe Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-thornton/)

> [I don't know how many years I can play, but I want to retire as a Shark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thornton/i-don-t-know-how-many-years-i-can-play-but-i-want-to-retire-as-a-shark/)

[Joe Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-thornton/)

> [I have a big frame to fend off some defenders and buy some time as I wait for guys to get open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thornton/i-have-a-big-frame-to-fend-off-some-defenders-and-buy-some-time-as-i/)

[Joe Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-thornton/)

> [Every line expects to do big things when they're on the ice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thornton/every-line-expects-to-do-big-things-when-they-re-on-the-ice/)

[Joe Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-thornton/)

[Explore all 104 Joe Thornton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-thornton/)

## More Been quotes

> [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/)

[Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/)

> [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/)

[Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/)

> [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/)

[Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/)

> [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/)

[Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/)

> [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/)

[Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/)

> [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/)

[Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/)

> [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/)

[Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/)

> [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/)

[Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/)

> [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/)

[Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/)

> [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/)

[Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/)

> [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. If you've been investing in those, give it up. That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/)

[Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/)

> [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/)

[Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/)

> [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/)

[Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/)

> [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/)

[Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/)

> [I've always been a believer in research. It's great to have an instinctual human reaction to a character, too, of course, but it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-ve-always-been-a-believer-in-research-it-s-great-to-have-an/)

[Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/)

[Browse all 13,699 Been quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I've been a hockey fan since '84, probably.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Joe Thornton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thornton/i-ve-been-a-hockey-fan-since-84-probably/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Been"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thornton/i-ve-been-a-hockey-fan-since-84-probably/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/joe-thornton-5006_been_i-ve-been-a-hockey-fan-since-84-probably_2603220.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/joe-thornton-5006_been_i-ve-been-a-hockey-fan-since-84-probably_2603220.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/joe-thornton-5006_been_i-ve-been-a-hockey-fan-since-84-probably_2603220.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I've been a hockey fan since '84, probably.” — Joe Thornton",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Joe Thornton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-thornton/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I've been a hockey fan since...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thornton/i-ve-been-a-hockey-fan-since-84-probably/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thornton/i-ve-been-a-hockey-fan-since-84-probably/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
