Fri 28 Aug 2026 - 4:00PM
LOWDOWN ON DEFENCEMAN GORDIE BALLHORN
By Jono Bullard
Nottingham Panthers latest signing is 6 foot 1 inch Canadian defenceman Gordie Ballhorn who joins the club after spending the past three seasons with Danish Metal Ligaen side Esbjerg Energy.
Born in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, the 28-year-old started his career with Leduc Oil Kings, playing AAA in their U15, U16 and U18 teams from 2011 to 2014.
The 2014/15 season saw him join Whitecourt Wolverines of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. He played 51 games for the Wolverines, scoring 15 points and was a team-mate of Manchester Storm forward Joseph Nardi.
While in Whitecourt, Ballhorn committed to playing in the NCAA for Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) from the start of the 2016/17 season. However, a phone call from Lorne Frey, Director of Player Personnel for Kelowna Rockets of the WHL, saw Ballhorn decline RIT and join Rockets as an undrafted prospect from the 2015/16 season.
He played in Kelowna for three seasons, wearing an A on his jersey for his final two years. Ballhorn made 214 appearances for the Rockets, scoring 64 points along with a total plus/minus rating of +71.
In his final season in 2017/18, he won the Rockets Unsung Hero and Plus/Minus awards, along with being voted as their Humanitarian of the Year for being an outstanding character on the ice and in the community.
Once the WHL season ended for the Rockets in 2017/18, Ballhorn signed an Amateur Tryout Contract (ATO) with Allen Americans of the ECHL. He played three regular-season and seven playoff games for Allen, registering one assist as he played his first professional games.
With a choice of university, Ballhorn opted to play for University of Saskatchewan Huskies from 2018/19, choosing them over the University of Alberta Golden Bears as the Huskies could offer big minutes on the blueline for him in USports.
He repaid the faith shown in him in his first season, playing 36 games in all competitions and scoring 13 points as Huskies took the USports West Championship to qualify for the University Cup. Ballhorn was also selected for the USports West All-Rookie team.
Ballhorn played a further two seasons in Saskatchewan, split by the covid shutdown for the 2020/21 season. Ballhorn played three games for Wynyard Monarchs in the Long Lake Hockey League before that competition also succumbed to the pandemic.
He returned to the Huskies for his final season in USports as captain, playing 17 games and scoring 16 points which included seven goals and saw him finish as the top goalscoring defenceman in USports for 2021/22.
After finishing his university career, Ballhorn moved to Europe, signing for HC Presov in the Slovakian Extraliga. He played 10 games for the club before an injury saw him leave Slovakia and join Herning Blue Fox in Denmark, returning to action for them in January 2023.
Ballhorn played 28 regular-season and playoff games in Herning, scoring nine points as Blue Fox got to the Bronze Medal Game of the Metal Ligaen Championship, losing to Herlev Eagles.
He stayed in Denmark the following season, signing for Esbjerg Energy. They made the Metal Ligaen final in 2023/24, winning the silver medal after SønderjyskE won the Championship, taking the best-of-seven game series 4-2.
Ballhorn stayed in Esbjerg for a further two seasons, playing a total of 145 games in all competitions, scoring 51 points and accumulating 117 penalty minutes.
Described as a physical two-way defenceman, Ballhorn now brings his skills to the Motorpoint Arena. We welcome him on 5th September when Panthers take on Cardiff Devils.