Coda To The Semifinals

For those who are musically-inclined, a coda is an important passage of music that generally brings a musical piece or composition to an end. Codas are still used in music today, and often are used as vitally-important pieces of the music such as one hears at the conclusion of Hey Jude by The Beatles - yes, the "Na-na-na-na hey Jude" ending of the song. Tonight in Calgary, there was an ending written as Coda Gordon powered by Calgary Dinos over the Manitoba Bisons in both quarterfinal games to end the Bisons' season while moving the Dinos into the semifinals against the Saskatchewan Huskies.

Friday night's game saw the Dinos jump out to a 4-0 lead in the first period en route to a 6-2 victory as Gordon had assists on the first, fourth, and fifth goals that the Dinos scored. Allowing four goals in the first period is a tough hole for any team to dig out of in most cases, and the Bisons put themselves in a 1-0 series hole by allowing the Dinos - powered by Gordon's three-point night - to run roughshod all over them.

Entering Saturday's game, it was expected that the Bisons would watch some video and correct their mistakes, but Gordon's magical weekend continued as he intercepted a pass in the offensive zone while shorthanded and ripped a shot past Bisons netminder Riley Lamb. Honestly, the Bisons didn't need to gift-wrap a goal like they did for Gordon, but credit Gordon with finding twine after the Bisons' defender went tape-to-tape with Gordon on a pass that no defenceman should ever make.

Gordon would strike again in the second period with the game tied at 1-1 when he found some room in a goalmouth scramble to fly in on the right side and bat the puck out of midair past a sprawled Lamb off a great initial shot by Dallas Hines, putting the Dinos up 2-1. Again, Gordon deserves credit for not hanging back and playing conservatively as his crashing the net resulted in a goal. Going to the net is never the wrong choice, and Gordon picked up his second goal of the night to put the Dinos ahead once more.

While he didn't know it at the time, that goal would ultimately be the game-winning goal as the Dinos closed out this game with some solid defending in the third period to go along with a couple of timely saves from Matt Greenfield to give the Dinos the win as they took the series by a 2-0 count, moving them into the semifinals against the Saskatchewan Huskies.

For those that aren't aware, Coda Gordon was drafted by the Calgary Flames back in 2012 as the 165th-overall pick. After five solid seasons with the WHL's Swift Current Broncos where he posted three seasons of 25-or-more goals and 59-or-more points, the Flames used their sixth-round pick on Gordon as they appeared to like his size - 6'2" and 200 pounds - and skill.

Gordon, however, didn't fit into their immediate plans as they failed to sign the Cochrane, Alberta native, and he re-entered the NHL Entry Draft in 2014 as a 19 year-old player. The one knock on Gordon was his lack of speed and acceleration from a stop, and it was something he worked on diligently while with the Broncos. Unfortunately for Coda Gordon, the Flames made changes, opted not to sign him, and he went back into the draft where he was not selected, making him a free agent.

In 2015, Gordon opted to take the WHL Scholarship opportunity and enrolled at the University of Calgary where he joined the Dinos men's hockey team. While has hasn't been a dominant scorer at the Canada West level, it seems that he saves his best for last - like a musical coda - while playing hockey. In 2016, he scored a pair of goals against the Regina Cougars to help the Dinos sweep the Cougars, he had a goal in Game Two and an assist on the Game Three game-winning goal as the Dinos rallied to beat the Thunderbirds in 2018, and he had five points against the Bisons in two games this season. Clearly, the former Flames prospect knows when to step up his game.

Thanks to Coda Gordon's play this weekend, the Bisons will regroup and retool for next season as their season comes to a close. The Dinos will enter next weekend's semifinal as an underdog against the Huskies after they put together another incredible season, but I expect the Dinos not to quietly into the night. I don't know if Coda Gordon will have the same impact against the Huskies as he did against the Bisons, but I do expect him to have a role in those games.

If this series is going to be his swan song in Canada West hockey, Coda Gordon has composed a very impressive university hockey career.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!