Cancer claims life of ex-Blade Gordon
Former forward honoured last week
Former Saskatoon Blades captain Bruce Gordon — who was honoured by the team before their Sept. 22 Western Hockey League season opener — died Friday after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 54.
Gordon, a former hard-nosed forward, amassed 579 penalty minutes with the Blades during the 1980-81 and 1981-82 seasons after spending two years with the Medicine Hat Tigers. He also scored 22 goals as part of his 87 points in 183 games.
A native of Marsden, Gordon went on to study at the University of Saskatchewan and join the Saskatoon Police Service. He became a well-respected officer who spent 28 years on the force. Gordon served as a detective sergeant in both the sex crimes unit and the major crime/homicide unit.
A fitness fanatic who did CrossFit training, Gordon competed in triathlons and Ironman races. He also coached hockey.
Gordon later returned to school to study law, but before he could pursue his new career as a lawyer, he was diagnosed with terminal Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
Before law school, Gordon was the director of investigations for the new civilian oversight of police office in British Columbia. During law school, he worked with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission and for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan.
It was only a week ago that former teammates and extended Blades family joined to pay tribute to Gordon. The Blades unveiled a banner honouring Gordon, which hangs at the SaskTel Centre.
Players will continue to honour Gordon by wearing helmet stickers that stick to the “Be Like Bruce” theme this season.
“Bruce will forever be a legend in the Blades family, the city of Saskatoon and beyond,” the Blades said in a statement. “We are honoured Bruce and his family were able to be with us at our home opener so we could thank him for all he did for us.”
The Blades held a moment of silence before their game Friday against the Tigers — fittingly, the game featured the two WHL teams for which Gordon had played.