Black, Gordon Honoured by Ranking

Graham Black - photo by Darwin Knelsen

A hockey game can completely change directions in just a split second. So can the career of a young player.

Neither Coda Gordon nor Graham Black were on the radar for NHL scouts before the start of the WHL season. Now both Swift Current Broncos rookies have made it into prominent positions on the latest NHL Central Scouting rankings for the 2012 NHL draft.

Black was caught off guard.

"Honestly I didn't see myself getting ranked by Central Scouting because I'm an older guy and an older rookie in the league," Black said. "It was quite a shock to me, but I'm pretty happy about it."

"It's nice to know that somebody has noticed what I've been doing for the team this year. It's almost like a big compliment actually."

Gordon was ranked for the first time in the fall and admits it is in the back of his mind now.

"I'm still not trying to focus on it too much here," Gordon said. "But now that I'm on the radar I definitely pay more attention to it."

He believes his success is partially thanks to the chance Coach/GM Mark Lamb took by putting him on the first line with Taylor Vause and Adam Lowry.

"I got an opportunity early and I was able to do something with it," Gordon said. "I thought I gelled pretty early with my line and it just kind of went up from there."

Gordon is ranked 38th among North American skaters and has 37 points in 38 games so far this season. Black comes in at 53rd and has 27 points in 41 games. They are 4th and 7th among WHL forwards.

Both guys produced at a high level last season. Gordon scored 110 points in 65 games with the Edge Academy midget team while Black topped all Saskatchewan Midget AAA scorers with 76 points in 43 games.

Along with the two Broncos, Swift Current native and Kelowna Rockets forward Colton Heffley earned a spot on the NHL Central Scouting rankings. Heffley comes in at 181rst among North American Skaters. The 6'3, 200lbs centre has 8 points through 32 games this season.