A South Surrey hockey player has been named a finalist for the Western Hockey League (WHL)鈥檚 Brad Hornung Memorial Tophy 鈥� awarded annually to the WHL鈥檚 Most Sportsmanlike Player 鈥� with a pretty amazing statistic: zero penalty minutes the entire season.
At 17, it鈥檚 Jordan Gavin鈥檚 second WHL season playing with the Tri-City Americans, who are based out of Kennewick, Washington. It was also a historic season for him, as he recorded 68 points (23-45-68) in 68 games, and did so while not taking a single minor penalty.
鈥淣ever in the history of the Western Hockey League has a player recorded a point-per-game season with zero penalty minutes,鈥� a release on the Tri-City Americans website states.
鈥淭here鈥檚 some good players that get nominated for that award, so just to be in the running with those kind of players is pretty special. It feels pretty cool,鈥� Jordan said from his South Surrey home last week.
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He hadn鈥檛 really thought about his stats during the regular season, he said.
鈥淚 just kind of go out there and play my game. I don鈥檛 want to put my team on the disadvantage鈥� I feel like I鈥檓 smart with my stick 鈥� it just kind of happened naturally.鈥�
During hockey season, he lives with his billet family in Washington, but his family 鈥� parents, sisters and often, grandparents 鈥� come and see him play as much as possible 鈥� in Vancouver, all over Washington State and places like Portland, Oregon.
鈥淗e could鈥檝e ended up in Saskatchewan or Manitoba, so it鈥檚 nice,鈥� dad Kevin Morgan said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a good, fun family experience.鈥�
Of course, he鈥檚 happy for his son鈥檚 trophy nomination.
鈥淭o be in that company as a 17-year-old is pretty special 鈥� I鈥檓 definitely proud of him as a Dad, to see where he鈥檚 gotten so far.鈥�
Kevin and his father grew up playing hockey, which is why Jordan said he likely started playing as a youngster.
鈥淚 just kind of wanted to follow in their footsteps a little bit鈥� I was having a lot of fun playing hockey when I was younger, so from the start I knew this was what I wanted to do. It became my passion,鈥� Jordan said.
The 2025 NHL Draft-eligible forward was selected by Tri-City second overall in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, and he also represented Team Canada Black at the 2022 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where he netted a goal and an assist in six games.
For the Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy, he鈥檚 up against three other nominees: Jordan Keller with the Kamloops Blazers, the Edmonton Oil King鈥檚 Gavin Hodnett and Brayden Yager with the Moose Jaw Warriors.
The winner will be revealed on Thursday, May 2.
Jordan, who has adjusted to living in the U.S. during hockey season, credits his billet family for making the transition easy for him.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e a great family, great people. They鈥檝e been really good to me 鈥� they made the adjustment a lot easier,鈥� he said, noting there are some Canadian differences the American family has noticed.
鈥淭hey pick up some words 鈥� I think I said 鈥榞arburator鈥� once around them 鈥� I guess they call it trash disposal or something, so they were completely shocked when I said that. They had no idea what I meant,鈥� he said.
Growing up skating out of Centennial Arena in White Rock, Jordan still has fond memories of the place.
鈥淲e always skated out of Centennial. It鈥檚 a smaller rink but it just holds a special place鈥� that鈥檚 where I grew up playing and practicing, so it鈥檚 special to go back there every once in awhile.鈥�
While many of his teammates and other players in the WHL will be eligible for the NHL Draft this year, Jordan鈥檚 November birthday means he must wait until next year to see if 鈥� and where 鈥� he might be drafted.
鈥淚 think it would be special getting drafted anywhere in the NHL,鈥� he said.
鈥淕rowing up, my favourite team was Vancouver, obviously, so that鈥檇 be cool 鈥� to play for my hometown team 鈥� but just getting drafted anywhere, to any (NHL) team would be special.鈥�
