Andrew Gordon Returns to Hershey Wednesday Night

Over the four seasons that he played in a Bears uniform, Andrew Gordon became one of the most popular players in the history of franchise. Wednesday night, Gordon will play in Giant Center for the first time since he was injured in first round of the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs. He will return to the ice in Chocolate Town, USA, but this time he’ll be a different team.

Gordon will be dressing in the blue threads of the St. John’s IceCaps Wednesday night, but for the first time in the visitors locker room. “I was lost once I went past the home dressing room,” joked Gordon after practice on Tuesday. “It was great coming back in. The building is beautiful as it always has been. I’ve been excited for this game for a while. To finally get here and start focusing on the game itself is exciting.”

The Halifax, NS native played in 313 games during his time in a Bears jersey and tallied 224 points, along with 36 playoff points. Yet during his time in Hershey, “Gordo” became much more than a hockey player; he became a part of the community and became one of the Bears leaders on and off the ice.

Two of the season that Gordon got to play in a Bears sweater were years which he got to raise the Calder Cup. “A lot of times when you win the way we did and you hoist championships you get together with a group of guys like we had, winning teaches you a lot about everything else. You learn how to compete, how to play in the playoffs, how to be a leader from a lot of the great players around me. That carries with me wherever I go, on the ice and everywhere I go in my life.

“The community has taught me a lot about welcoming people in. The fans have been outstanding to me since the day I got here. It has been a wonderful experience to look back on now and say ‘I had it good those were good years’. My father and I talk frequently about it. I became an adult here. I taught me a lot about being a person who can contribute to society, be a hockey player and being a good person.”

Since leaving Hershey, he signed with the Anaheim Ducks in 2011-12 where he played 37 games before being assigned to the Ducks affiliate at the time, Syracuse. 19 games into his stint with the Crunch, he was dealt to Vancouver and assigned to Chicago, where he played 64 games with the Wolves over two seasons. This past off season, Gordon signed a deal with the Winnipeg Jets, but was assigned to St. John’s after training camp.

Now at the age of 27, he is one of oldest players on this IceCaps team. “It’s a young group of guys and reminds me of the teams I had (in Hershey.) There are lots of rookies and lots of entry level guys. They are excited to be living the life they’ve dreamed about. We struggled with some consistency lately. That’s a coming of age thing. We have some older leaders here. Hopefully we can teach these young guys about what it takes to win.”

Gordon is hoping for the call back to the NHL, but for now his focus is on winning with the IceCaps. Wednesday’s night’s game is sure to be an emotional moment for Gordon, when he skates in front of the Bears fans who are sure to give him a warm welcome home.

Faceoff is Wednesday night at 7pm at Giant Center in Hershey