"A very fit-looking Shawn Thornton was among a group of Bruins [team stats] veterans who skated informally at Ristuccia Arena yesterday morning before rookie camp. The team's full camp gets under way a week from today.

Despite his obviously very busy summer, with various sightings around town with the Stanley Cup, Thornton was up bright and early all summer getting his workouts in. He now weighs about 212, some six pounds less than he finished last season.

"It's been a busy summer and obviously shorter," said Thornton. "That's a good thing, because it means we won. You have to say no to people sometimes when you really don't want to, just so you can have some peace and quiet and some time to yourself. You probably could have some (event) to do every single day. Honestly, probably 80 percent of the days I have had something to do.

"But I'm an early morning guy. I'm up at 5:30 or 6, I get my work done before the days get going, so it's easy. I think all the guys take pride nowadays in their conditioning. The days of sitting around in the summer and enjoying yourself are done. These young kids just ruined it for all of us.""