Terrace’s Luke Gordon is moving up in the world of hockey, he recently signed a contract with the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen.
Gordon did this while in Calgary March 6 to 7, when he played two games with the team.
He played one game in Red Deer against the Rebels, and one on Hitmen home ice, against the Swift Current Broncos.
“We were short some bodies, he came in and played a few games, and got his feet wet for sure,” said Brad Whelen, assistant general manager and head scout for the Hitmen.
And while the signing of a contact doesn’t guarantee Gordon ice time with the Hitmen next year, it does move the 16-year-old Terrace minor hockey graduate one solid step closer to playing in the WHL.
“I think he is certainly in the plans,” said Whelen, adding that while it will be a big jump from major midget to the WHL, Gordon certainly has a skill set and hockey sense, which seem to be at the western league level.
He has also been on the Hitmen’s protected list for the past year and a half.
“I think that a good summer of getting stronger physically will bode well for him, and he will be able to make the jump to the Western Hockey League next year with ease,” Whelen said.
And this is certainly what Gordon is working towards for the upcoming hockey season.
“Hopefully next year I will be able to make the jump and make the team,” Gordon said. “My ultimate goal is to play in the WHL one day.”
Gordon is currently having a strong season with the major midget Cariboo Cougars in Prince George, leading the team in points.
Gordon has been living away from home for two hockey seasons, and currently attends Grade 11 in Prince George.
“We are extremely excited and super proud of him,” said Carla Mantie, Gordon’s mother.
“The last two years he has lived away from his friends and family,” Mantie said. “He gives 100 percent all the time so he deserves it, he has worked really hard.”
Whelen is optimistic about Gordon’s future.
“As an organization, we’re excited that he has had a real good year in midget with the Cariboo Cougars, and think that he is going to be a solid western hockey leaguer,” Whelen said.
Gordon will find out where he will play next season by the end of this August. And while he hopes to be Calgary bound, he said playing for a Junior A team would be his second plan for the year.
