Thu 27 Aug 2026 - 5:00PM

PANTHERS SIGN DEFENCEMAN GORDIE BALLHORN

Nottingham Panthers have signed 6 foot 1 Canadian defenceman Gordie Ballhorn.

The 28-year-old has played 128 regular-season games in Denmark's Metal Ligaen, scoring 14 goals and adding 35 assists for 49 points, which started with half a season with Herning Blue Fox before three years with Esbjerg Energy.

Earlier in his career, his junior hockey saw him ice in the Western Hockey League for Kelowna Rockets, scoring 60 points (11+49) in 175 games with a remarkable plus-minus of +71.

The blueliner had a three-game stint with ECHL side Allen Americans before mixing his studies with hockey in the highly-rated USports at the University of Saskatchewan.

Ballhorn iced in 66 regular-season games with Saskatchewan, netting 12 goals and 35 assists for 47 points. He was named as an All-Star in 2019/20 and in 2021/22, he was appointed Saskatchewan's captain and led the league for defenceman scoring.

His first year as pro in 2022/23 saw him sign in Europe with HC Presov in Slovakia before moving mid-season to the Danish top flight with Herning where he played alongside former Panther Brett Perlini, winning the Silver Medal in the playoffs.

Ballhorn remained in the Metal Ligaen at the start of 2023/24 and will arrive in Nottingham on the back of three seasons with Esbjerg.

Panthers Head Coach, Danny Stewart, said: Gordie gives us a very good two-way and physical defender back there.

"He had an excellent USports career and has been a staple on some very good teams in Esbjerg the past three seasons.

"I think he compliments what we have very well and we look forward to him joining us as soon as possible."

Ballhorn - who will wear the #4 jersey for the Panthers - will make his debut in the pre-season game at home to Cardiff Devils on Saturday 5th September (19:00 face-off).

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