International Falls native Ben Gordon thought his hockey career hit a cul-de-sac last season when he recorded 21 goals and 36 assists in 63 games in his first year in the ECHL.
Last weekend his hockey career hit a roller coaster.
Gordon (FHS ’03) exceeded expectations this season, getting called up four different times to the AHL — just a step away from the NHL. In 16 games in the AHL with three different teams — Abbotsford, Toronto and Providence — Gordon recorded seven points (2 goals, 5 assists).
“I just had a good offseason. I worked hard all summer to try and get in better shape,” Gordon told The Journal on Thursday. “Things worked out with a good team.”
That good team is the Reading Royals, and by the time this story hits the streets, Gordon and the Royals will have already played Game 1 of their American Conference finals matchup against Cincinnati, the team Gordon first played for last season in his rookie year.
“They’re going to play hard. It’s going to be a good series,” Gordon said, noting the Cincinnati coaches are the same and he still has a couple good friends on the team. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it does go seven games.”
Gordon played in the ECHL All-Star Game this season and posted 69 points (24G, 45A) in just 56 regular-season games. He currently has 10 points (2G, 8A) in nine playoff games, including a game-winning goal in Florida against the Everblades just over a week ago that set up a roller coaster weekend.
It’s not often an athlete gets to play in front of a large group of family and friends nearly 2,000 miles away from home, but Gordon did just that April 20 ... and then some.
With his best friend and cousin, Critter Nagurski, marrying Stephanie Kucera (both FHS grads) in Fort Myers on April 23, Gordon scored the series-clinching goal April 20 roughly 20 minutes from Fort Myers in the Everblades’ home rink. Everyone who came down early for the wedding was at the game.
“It was good to get a goal for my team and for my family and some of my best buddies,” Gordon said.
But the moment didn’t end there.
Because it was a series sweep and the other conference semifinal was only through two games, Gordon’s coach Larry Courville allowed the former Bronco to stay in Florida to attend the wedding.
“It was kind of a miracle how it worked out,” Gordon said, noting he got to speak at the reception.
“Me and (FHS grad Chad Baldwin, the best man) each did our little stint up there,” Gordon added.
Then Saturday hit, and news from the north turned things somber.
James Gordon, Ben’s grandpa, had passed away at the Rainy Lake Medical Center.
“It was tough,” Ben said. “It was a tough thing. You know, when one of your best friends, relatives gets married, you’re at a high point.”
Ben flew back to Reading on Sunday and wanted to attend James’ funeral Thursday, but decided to stay and play Friday after a long discussion with his parents.
“We know what kind of guy he is,” Ben said. “We thought it would be best to stay here cause that’s probably what he would want me to do. Not probably, that’s definitely what he would want me to do.”
Ben admitted he didn’t get to spend as much time as he wanted with his grandpa because of hockey, but he believes that will be different now.
“It’s gonna be a tough game every night when you get to this point in the season,” Ben said, “but now he’ll be able to watch every game. That will always stick in my mind. He hasn’t seen a game in a while, so that’s a little extra incentive to do well for him.”
ECHL Conference finals
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Cincinnati vs. Reading
Friday, April 30: Reading at Cincinnati, LATE
Saturday, May 1: Reading at Cincinnati, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 4: Cincinnati at Reading, 6:05 p.m.
Saturday, May 8: Cincinnati at Reading, 6:05 p.m.
x-Sunday, May 9: Cincinnati at Reading, 6:05 p.m.
x-Tuesday, May 11: Reading at Cincinnati, 6:30 p.m.
x-Wednesday, May 12: Reading at Cincinnati, 6:30 p.m.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Stockton vs. Idaho
Friday, April 30: Stockton at Idaho, 8:10 p.m.
Saturday, May 1: Stockton at Idaho, 8:10 p.m.
Wednesday, May 5: Idaho at Stockton, 10 p.m.
Friday, May 7: Idaho at Stockton, 10:30 p.m.
x-Saturday, May 8: Idaho at Stockton, 10:30 p.m.
x-Tuesday, May 11: Stockton at Idaho, 8:10 p.m.
x-Wednesday, May 12: Stockton at Idaho, 8:10 p.m.
x-if necessary
