MIDDLETON -- Shawn Thornton doesn't need to do much work on his reputation in Boston. He doesn't seem to have any motives for what he does aside from heart. Formerly a journeyman tough guy in the NHL, Thornton hasn't ditched his bravado on the ice, but has been able to settle down in Boston and help both the Bruins and the community in a positive way.

Monday was the most recent example, with Thornton's first annual Putts and Punches for Parkinson's golf tournament at the Ferncroft country club in Middleton, a club to which he belongs. Thornton is an avid golfer to be sure, but when if came to the tournament, an excuse to hit the links was the farthest thing from the veteran forward's mind. 

Thornton's grandmother, who passed away in December of 2008, suffered from Parkinson's for the last several years of her life. Though Thornton couldn't recall exactly how long she had it, he could say with confidence that from the day it entered her life it had a huge impact on his family.

"Long enough that it was very memorable for me going into the home and seeing her in her chair and not being able to move and asking for help," Thornton said Monday. "For someone that had such a sharp mind as her, it was tough to deal with, that's for sure."

As a result, Thornton and the Bruins Foundation set out this summer raise money and awareness for the disease, something that made Bruins Foundation director of development and former Bruin Bob Sweeney proud.

"This is good," Sweeney said as the numerous attendees and people involved buzzed around the country club Monday. "... I think it's important that our players are committed to do more stuff in the community and I think it's great if we support them."

The tournament, which filled out with 20 foursomes participating at $1,600 per group (the money went to the American Parkinson Disease Association, or APDA), didn't come together at the snap of a finger, and in the end Thornton admitted his relief that people cared enough to support his cause. 

"I'll tell you what," Thornton confessed. "In late June I was sitting there and we hadn't really gotten going yet and there were a couple nights where I lost some hours' sleep thinking about it, that's for sure. The support's been great."

Thornton admitted he had actually been aiming to get the ball rolling with the tournament, which also featured teammates Milan Lucic and Tuukka Rask, earlier, but given his status as an impending free agent last season had to wait for the summer before anything could be set in motion.

"We talked about it earlier in the year and the idea was out there. We knew probably where we were going to do it and what it was going to be for, and approximately how many people we wanted to be here," Thornton said. "I had to wait until I finished up my extension and then we really put the pedal down to get this off. We would have liked probably another month or so to have, but it worked out well, I think we got the 20 foursomes we were looking for and everything's going good."

For trio of players who teed off Monday with excited fans, using their presence as a means of benefitting a good cause seemed to be a no-brainer, especially for Lucic, who on Friday hosted the very successful Rock and Jock softball game at LeLacheur Park in Lowell. 

"It's an easy yes," Lucic said when asked what his response is when presented with such opportunities. "Like I said leading up to my event, it's the summertime. We've got a lot of time off to take part in charity events and have opportunities to give back."

Lucic had originally planned on being out of town on Monday but changed his plans when approached by Thornton in a phone call. For his two teammates and friends to be as accommodating as they were for his cause, Thornton was greatly appreciative.

"I'm pretty close with both those guys so it's great for them to show up … They're good guys. I talked to Luch when he wanted to do the softball game," Thornton said. "... If I'm not mistaken, I think he stayed for an extra day just to do this, so I really appreciate those guys coming out."

Rask, who is now in town for the remainder of the summer up until next month's training camp, agreed wholeheartedly with Lucic's logic. 

"It's fun. Especially when you get so much time sometimes and the other option is to stay at home and watch TV," Rask said. "I'd rather go see kids in the hospital or come to events like this, so it's always fun to give back."

Lucic and Rask both admitted that showing off their golf skills were far from the reason why they made it out Monday. Unlike Thornton, who has by his estimation played between 30 and 35 rounds this summer, the two Bruins youngsters considered themselves far less capable. In fact, Rask said his only competition would be Lucic, who he deemed to be a mediocre golfer like him.

"I'd have to agree with him," Lucic said with a laugh when told that his goaltender was telling members of the media that the left wing was not an "A-class" golfer. "I'm not an A-class golfer, maybe a B-minus-class golfer at best.

"Everybody expects so much out of me," Lucic, who scored the game-winning run in his softball game, added as those on hand cracked up. "Because I'm an NHL hockey player, [they think] that I'm a good golfer. The fact of the matter is this is only my third summer golf and it is probably the hardest sport to learn, I'd have to say. There's a lot of concentration and a lot of mechanics that go into golf and that's what makes it so hard. The challenge of it is what makes it so fun, and that's what keeps me coming back to get better."

The event also featured a silent auction that including memorabilia and items from the Bruins, Red Sox, Celtics, Dropkick Murphys, and even a guitar from Bruce Springtsteen.

"I hope nobody bids on that guitar," Thornton said before the event, "so I can bid on it and take it home."