A tough right-winger who could score more than most people realized, John Kordic was relegated to the role of an enforcer in the NHL. He spent parts of seven years in the NHL with four different teams before his untimely death at the age of 27.
Kordic played in 1981-82 with the Edmonton Knights of Columbus midgets. This was followed by four years in the WHL, three with the Portland Winter Hawks, and one with the Seattle Breakers. In 1983 Kordic was a member of the Portland team when they became the first American franchise to win the Memorial Cup. A few weeks later he was chosen 80th overall by the Montreal Canadiens at the NHL Entry Draft. The rugged forward was placed on the WHL West second all-star team in 1985 after scoring 81 points and playing a physically imposing game.
Kordic spent most of 1985-86 season with AHL's Sherbrooke Canadiens then played 18 playoff games as the Habs won the Stanley Cup. He joined Montreal for 44 games in 1986-87 and was chiefly an enforcer for the team until early in 1988-89 when he was traded to Toronto for Russ Courtnall. He struggled initially because Courtnall was a popular player and the Leafs were in turmoil. The next year he was given more ice time under coach Doug Carpenter and scored nine goals in 55 games.
After Toronto endured a miserable start in the 1990-91 season, he and Paul Fenton were traded to the Washington Capitals for a draft pick. Kordic played only seven games for the Caps before signing as a free agent with the Quebec Nordiques in October 1991. He played 18 games for the Nords before loosing his life in the summer of 1992.
