Fred Gordon
Encyclopedia
Weldon Frederick Kenneth Gordon (b. May 6, 1900 in Fleming
, Saskatchewan
- d. November 1985) is a former ice hockey
right winger
. He played in 80 National Hockey League
games for the Detroit Cougars
and the Boston Bruins
. He later coached the Tulsa Oilers of the American Hockey Association.
. He was signed to a contract and Gordon joined the Shieks for the 1924–25 and 1925–26 seasons. He didn't produce as much as the management would have liked and was traded on October 27, 1926 to the Detroit Cougars
.
and Johnny Sheppard
. Gordon proved he was an effective role player and was traded after his rookie season to the Boston Bruins
for Harry Meeking
on May 22, 1927. Gordon scored five points and 40 penalty minutes for Boston in 1927–28 and even helped them reach the playoffs, eventually falling to the New York Rangers
in the semi-final.
of the American Hockey Association
. Gordon spent three seasons as a Miller, scoring 38 points and racking up 133 PIMs. He was traded to the Buffalo Majors for the 1931–32 season and continued his status as an enforcer
, scoring five goals and putting up 26 PIMs. His old team the Saskatoon Shieks, now renamed the Saskatoon Crescents, decided to sign him as a free agent on November 8, 1932. However, he suited up for only three games in the 1932–33 season before suffering a season-ending injury. Gordon was let go after his year long contract was up and he returned to the AHA, joining the first-place Kansas City Greyhounds. He had his most productive season to date in 1933–34, scoring 22 points and putting up 52 PIMs. Gordon led the Greyhounds into the playoffs and won the Harry F. Sinclair Trophy as league Champions. He would play one more season with the Greyhounds before retiring from playing ice hockey after the 1934–35 season.
when he led the Oilers to a 16–30–0 season, their worst season in years. Gordon decided to retire from coaching ice hockey in 1940.
Fleming, Saskatchewan
-External links:*...
, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
- d. November 1985) is a former ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
right winger
Winger (ice hockey)
Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
. He played in 80 National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
games for the Detroit Cougars
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
and the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
. He later coached the Tulsa Oilers of the American Hockey Association.
Minor league hockey
Gordon starting play for the 1921–22 season with the Indian Head Tigers of the Regina City Senior League. He scored 12 goals in 9 games with the club and would return the following season. He continued his scoring pace and was moved to the Brandon Regals for the 1923–24 season. He scored 9 points that season and was noticed by the Saskatoon Shieks of the Western Canada Hockey LeagueWestern Canada Hockey League
The Western Canada Hockey League , founded in 1921, was a major professional ice hockey league originally based in the prairies of Canada. It was renamed the Western Hockey League in 1925 and disbanded in 1926.-History:...
. He was signed to a contract and Gordon joined the Shieks for the 1924–25 and 1925–26 seasons. He didn't produce as much as the management would have liked and was traded on October 27, 1926 to the Detroit Cougars
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
.
Playing in the NHL
Gordon scored five goals as an NHL rookie in 1926–27 to go along with five assists while playing on a line with Duke KeatsDuke Keats
Gordon Blanchard "Duke, Iron Duke" Keats was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played for the Toronto Blueshirts of the National Hockey Association , Edmonton Eskimos of the Western Canada Hockey League and the Boston Bruins, Detroit Cougars and Chicago Black Hawks of the National...
and Johnny Sheppard
Johnny Sheppard
John Oswald "Jake" Sheppard was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played nine seasons in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Cougars, New York Americans, Boston Bruins and Chicago Black Hawks from 1926–27 to 1933–34.Born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Sheppard began his career...
. Gordon proved he was an effective role player and was traded after his rookie season to the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
for Harry Meeking
Harry Meeking
Harry "Hurricane Howie" Meeking was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 3 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Arenas, Detroit Cougars and Boston Bruins. He was born in Berlin, Ontario....
on May 22, 1927. Gordon scored five points and 40 penalty minutes for Boston in 1927–28 and even helped them reach the playoffs, eventually falling to the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
in the semi-final.
Joining the AHA
After his season with Boston, Gordon didn't return to the NHL and decided to join the Minneapolis MillersMinneapolis Millers (AHA)
The Minneapolis Millers were a minor league professional ice hockey team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the Minneapolis Arena. The Millers originated in the Central Hockey League as a semi-professional team from the 1925-26 season. The team moved to the American Hockey Association along with...
of the American Hockey Association
American Hockey Association (1926–1942)
The American Hockey Association was a minor professional hockey league that operated between 1926 and 1942. It had previously operated as the Central Hockey League , and before that as part of the United States Amateur Hockey Association. The founding president was Alvin Warren, who also owned the St...
. Gordon spent three seasons as a Miller, scoring 38 points and racking up 133 PIMs. He was traded to the Buffalo Majors for the 1931–32 season and continued his status as an enforcer
Enforcer (hockey)
Enforcer is an unofficial role in ice hockey. The term is sometimes used synonymously with "fighter", "tough guy", or "goon". NHL players regarded as enforcers include Tiger Williams, Tony Twist, Bob Probert, Dave Semenko, Dave Schultz, Tie Domi, Dave Brown, Joey Kocur, Clark Gillies, Stu Grimson,...
, scoring five goals and putting up 26 PIMs. His old team the Saskatoon Shieks, now renamed the Saskatoon Crescents, decided to sign him as a free agent on November 8, 1932. However, he suited up for only three games in the 1932–33 season before suffering a season-ending injury. Gordon was let go after his year long contract was up and he returned to the AHA, joining the first-place Kansas City Greyhounds. He had his most productive season to date in 1933–34, scoring 22 points and putting up 52 PIMs. Gordon led the Greyhounds into the playoffs and won the Harry F. Sinclair Trophy as league Champions. He would play one more season with the Greyhounds before retiring from playing ice hockey after the 1934–35 season.
Gordon the coach
After taking a year off as an amateur referee, Gordon was asked to step in and coach the Tulsa Oilers. Gordon agreed and was put into place towards the end of the Oilers' losing season. He was given full control for the 1937–38 season and coached the Oilers to a winning season with a record of 22–21–5. The following season saw the Oilers finishing with a 25–23–2 record and saw Gordon hit the ice to come out of retirement. Gordon skated in one game in which he scored an assist and four PIMs. The 1939–40 season would be Gordon's last as head coachHead coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
when he led the Oilers to a 16–30–0 season, their worst season in years. Gordon decided to retire from coaching ice hockey in 1940.
Awards and achievements
- Harry F. Sinclair Trophy Winner:1933–34 (Kansas City Greyhounds - AHA)