After two seasons of camping under the Calgary Flames prospect tent, Cochrane’s Coda Gordon is without a National Hockey League team.
Drafted in the sixth round (165th overall) in the 2012 NHL entry draft by then-Flames general manager Jay Feaster, the Cochrane Minor Hockey product and Edge School Mountaineer was not re-signed by the team (now led by Brian Burke) on the May 31 signing deadline.
This after his most productive season with the Western Hockey League’s Swift Current Broncos, a season in which the 6-foot-1, 181-pound left wing scored a career-high 71 points (26 goals, 45 assists) in an injury-shortened 59-game campaign.
He may not be without an NHL sweater for long. He’s back the NHL draft pool, eligible for the league’s June 27 draft in Philadelphia. Should he go undrafted he’ll be a free agent eligible for any NHL team, and the 19-year-old still has a year of playing eligibility with the Broncos.
“Right now I’m technically a free agent. I didn’t sign with them (Calgary) at the deadline,” Gordon said. “I’ll go back into the 2014 draft. See what happens. Maybe get picked up. Maybe not. It’s kind of a toss-up as a 19-year-old as to what guys are looking for. If I get picked, hopefully I get signed right out of the draft and maybe play in the American Hockey League next season. If not, then I’d go back to Swift Current for my final year of junior and just play as a free agent, hopefully have a good season and get signed somewhere.”
Going back to Swift Current for a final year of major-junior hockey isn’t the worst thing that could happen to Gordon. In his third season with the club, Swift Current made the playoffs before bowing out to Medicine Hat in the opening round.
“It was a really successful season. I thought we cut our playoffs short,” he said. “I thought we could have taken it to another round or two. That was a little disappointing. But, overall, it was a good season for the team and me.”
The Broncos pressed him into a leadership role, stitching the alternate captain’s “A” to his sweater.
“It was the first time I’ve pretty much worn a letter on any kind of team. It was a big honour. I definitely thought as a leader and a person I matured a lot more this year than I had in the past two years, having to step up and take that role.”
As for not re-signing with the Flames, Gordon admitted disappointment but has moved on and seeks a new pro stall in which to hang his gear.
“It’s a business, right?” he remarked. He had the luxury of spending two summers working with the Flames training staff, just down the road. “Calgary was a huge help to my game. They worked a lot with me. It was super convenient just having them there and being able to work with them. It was definitely easy for me.”
Now it’s back to the rink for more hockey. Summer is too short for guys looking to make the next level.
“Already back in,” Gordon said of his time at the rink. “Took a break. Started back working. Skating twice a week. I never really left the ice for too long. Just looking to get back on and start my training now.”
