17 hours Ago By Darren Zary
Cole Jordan wasn’t sure if he’d be back playing this season. In fact, the former prospect wasn’t even sure if he’d ever play hockey again after being diagnosed with an enlarged heart. But here he is, back in the line-up for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, who are hosting the visiting British Columbia Thunderbirds in a best-of-three Canada West men’s hockey semi-final series at Merlis Belsher Place.
The winner not only advances to the Canada West conference final, but also gains a spot in the upcoming University Cup national championship tournament March 20-23 in Ottawa. Game-time is 7 p.m.
Friday and Saturday. A third game, if necessary, would be played Sunday at 6 p.m.
“It’s felt amazing to be back out there with the guys,” says Jordan, who was selected by the Flames in the fifth round, 141st overall, in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. “It was obviously a long few months with some uncertainties and stuff with that, but it feels good, overall, to be back out there. And we’re super excited headed into playoffs.
” Jordan — a 22-year-old Brandon product and former Moose Jaw Warrior — returned to the ice after stick-handling through a season of uncertainty ever since being diagnosed with a heart condition called “athlete’s heart,” an enlarged heart. Jordan sat idle for three months in between games. He played Nov.
9 against Trinity Western but not again until Feb. 8 in Vancouver against UBC. “There were definitely some uncertainties as to whether I would be able to play hockey again,” admits Jordan, a 6-foot-2, 202-pound blueliner who ended up playing just 12 times during the 28-game regular season.
“From my first doctor’s opinion that I got, there was a feeling that, potentially, my season was maybe done and potentially could be threatening to the rest of (my) competitive hockey career. But afterwards, we sought out a cardiologist’s opinion. From there, I got some good news that I could return to play.
“It was just a ton of relief, a lot of weight lifted off my shoulders, to get the good news that I was good to go again and good to compete and play at a high level again.” During his shortened season, Jordan had two goals and four assists for six points. After being out three months, he played two of the final four games of the regular season.
“It felt really good to build back up, get a couple of games in going into playoffs here,” says Jordan. “I had about a three-week build-up getting back into shape, doing cardio on the ice and whatnot. It was really good to get back into the line-up at UBC.
It just felt great to be back.” That was great news for the Huskies, who’ve had a few injuries in the back end. “To have Cole back, obviously he’s been a big part of the team the last couple of years,” says U of S head coach Brandin Cote.
“He plays two ways. So to get him back in there, it’s even more than selfish reasons for our team but also for him. There was just a whole lot of uncertainty as to whether or not he could even play again.
So in that regard, it’s very fortunate for him the way it turned out. I’m really happy for him.” As it turns out, some earlier misfortune met Jordan in junior hockey.
A serious knee injury shortened his final season of junior and he never did sign with the Flames. “My 20-year-old season in Moose Jaw didn’t go as planned,” he recalls. “I suffered a season-ending injury and I had to get knee surgery.
That wasn’t the way I envisioned that going. I would have obviously wanted to finish out my junior career and have an opportunity to sign a pro contract, but it didn’t go that way for me. I feel really fortunate to have ended up here in Saskatoon with a great program and we have a great team like this, a great facility.
I’m just real excited to be heading into playoffs here.” Saskatchewan — ranked No. 2 in Canada — finished first overall in the Canada West conference with a 23-5-0 record and will enjoy home-ice advantage throughout playoffs.
SMOOTH OPERATOR Jordan, an elite skater, has a bit of offensive flair and can be used on the power play. “He’s smooth back there,” points out Cote. “He moves the puck really well.
He gets up in the rush. We can use him basically anywhere. He’s played a bunch of different roles for us.
He was obviously a drafted guy that had a really good junior career, a big body. “I thought, when he came back and played against UBC in his first game back, he was really good for us. We got him in a few games during the home stretch, and he’s been working really hard the last couple of weeks to get up to speed.
” The Dogs got an assist from Flames athletic therapist Scott Cyr, a former Huskies trainer, in landing Jordan. “We had been talking to (Jordan) and Scott Cyr had been working with him on the Flames, rehabbing his knee, and he sort of mentioned that he might be interested based on what happened,” Cote explains. “He knew a few guys on the team and liked Saskatoon, so it turned out in our favour.
” Jordan already knew fellow former Flames prospect Rhett Rhinehart and former Moose Jaw teammate Cade Hayes on the Huskies. “Brandin does a really good job in selling the program and, obviously, the facilities here are great,” says Jordan, whose dad grew up in Carnduff in southern Saskatchewan. “I had a couple of teammates, who I played with, who really sold it to me as well.
They had nothing but good things to say about it. I feel really fortunate to have landed here and I’ve had a great couple of years here. “Lots of Saskatchewan runs in my family and I really love it here.
I played junior in Moose Jaw, so I’ve been living in Saskatchewan for the last seven years of my life. I just love it here.”.
