Ty Gordon: The USHL Should Be Paying Attention

Some players put up points. Others change the way a team plays when they're on the ice.

Ty Gordon is becoming one of those players.

The Minnesota Mallards forward has turned himself into one of the more dangerous offensive players in the NAHL, and his production through the opening portion of the 2026-27 season is getting difficult to overlook.

The St. Albert, Alberta native has 29 points in 20 games, including 14 goals and 15 assists. That's a 1.45 points-per-game pace, and it puts him firmly on the radar as a potential USHL call-up candidate.

If a Tier I club is looking for an offensive spark, Gordon deserves a phone call.

From Alberta to Forest Lake

Gordon didn't arrive in Minnesota without a hockey résumé.

The 2006-born forward previously played in the AJHL with the Drayton Valley Thunder before moving to the NAHL, where he spent the 2024-25 season with the El Paso Rhinos and Minnesota Mallards.

His first season was a period of adjustment. He produced 18 points, six goals and 12 assists, over 42 games.

The following season brought another step forward. Gordon finished 2025-26 with 27 points, including 11 goals and 16 assists, in 43 games.

Now look at what he's doing.

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Twenty games into the current campaign, he has already surpassed his previous season's production.

That's not a small improvement. That's a player taking a significant step in his development.

Gordon Has Found Another Gear

There is a difference between being productive and becoming a player who dictates the pace of a game.

Gordon is showing signs of the latter.

His offensive game combines quick decision-making, deceptive movement, and the ability to finish around the net. He can create opportunities for himself, but he's equally comfortable finding teammates when defenders commit to stopping his attack.

Fourteen goals and 15 assists tell part of the story. The more important question is how those points are being generated.

Gordon has become a player opposing teams have to account for every time he steps over the boards. He can drive offense off the wing, create pressure in transition, and make things happen when the game opens up.

That's the kind of offensive versatility that gets the attention of higher-level scouts.

The Mallards Are Growing Up, Too

Gordon's emergence is happening alongside a noticeable change in the Minnesota Mallards organization.

Expansion teams don't typically arrive with everything figured out. The first seasons are about establishing an identity, developing a roster, and building the foundation for something more competitive.

The Mallards experienced those growing pains.

Their inaugural 2024-25 campaign produced just 10 wins. The following season brought 28 points in the Central Division standings, but the organization was still searching for consistency.

This season, the picture looks different.

Minnesota is showing more structure, better competitiveness, and a stronger overall identity. The Mallards are becoming a team that can make life difficult for opponents, and Gordon has become an important part of that transformation.

Individual success is easier to appreciate when it contributes to a team moving in the right direction.

Gordon is doing both.

Why the USHL Should Take a Look

Let's get to the obvious question.

Does Ty Gordon deserve an opportunity in the United States Hockey League?

I think the argument is pretty straightforward.

Offensive production: Twenty-nine points in 20 games is difficult to ignore, particularly when 14 of those points are goals.

Two-way offensive threat: He's producing as both a finisher and a playmaker, making him more difficult to defend.

Development curve: His progression from 18 points to 27 points and now 29 points in just 20 games shows a player continuing to improve.

Opportunity: A USHL club looking for additional offensive depth could find a player who is already demonstrating the ability to produce consistently.

The USHL is a different level. The pace, pressure, and competition are demanding. Nobody should assume that success in the NAHL automatically translates into the same production in Tier I.

But that's not the argument.

The argument is that Gordon has earned the opportunity to find out.

A call-up would give a USHL organization a chance to evaluate a forward who is playing with confidence, producing at an impressive rate, and showing clear development from season to season.

Don't Let This One Fly Under the Radar

The junior hockey landscape is full of players waiting for somebody to notice them.

Some need another season. Some need a different opportunity. Others simply need the right organization to recognize what they're bringing to the table.

Ty Gordon is making that decision increasingly difficult to postpone.

He's gone from a modest offensive contributor to one of the driving forces behind the Minnesota Mallards attack. His production has taken a major jump, and he's doing it in a season when the organization itself appears to be making progress.

I'm not suggesting a USHL team should hand him a roster spot without evaluating him.

I'm suggesting they should be making the call.

At 20 games, Gordon has already made his case. Now it's up to the next level to decide whether it wants to give him a chance.

USHL scouts, Ty Gordon is worth your attention.

Ty Gordon: The USHL Should Be Paying Attention NAHL Mallards forward is putting together a breakout season that deserves a closer look from Tier I.

From Alberta to Forest Lake

Gordon Has Found Another Gear

The Mallards Are Growing Up, Too

Why the USHL Should Take a Look

Don't Let This One Fly Under the Radar

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