Gordon Bombay

* D1
* D2
* D3
* Game Changers

**Gordon Bombay** is the main protagonist of the *Mighty Ducks Trilogy*, and a supporting character in Season 1 of *The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers*.

A hockey player turned lawyer turned coach, Bombay became successful for coaching his hockey team the Mighty Ducks, from an underdog of few expectations to a perennial contender of winning championships. Due to his success, Bombay became an icon in Minneapolis and throughout the state of Minnesota, earning him the nickname of the "Minnesota Miracle Man".

## Biography

Gordon Bombay grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota and was a very talented hockey player during his childhood. His father was a mentor for his dedication to hockey, and Gordon had a close bond with him. For six years, Gordon played for the Hawks pee-wee hockey team led by Coach Jack Reilly. During the 1973 state championship game, he blew a penalty shot costing the title for the team and ending their undefeated winning streak. Sadly, Gordon's father passed away sometime before the game. Both his father's death and the loss would continue to haunt Bombay into his adult years, affecting his attitude towards winning.

### *The Mighty Ducks*

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Years later, Gordon is a prominent Minneapolis defense attorney, whose brash courtroom antics, though successful, have earned him no respect among his peers. His boss, [[Gerald Ducksworth]] reminds Gordon that After being arrested for drunk driving, Bombay is sentenced to 500 hours of community service by coaching the local District 5 peewee hockey team.

When Bombay meets the team, he realizes the kids have no practice facility, equipment or ability to go with it. He decides to play a little prank with the team, and tells Lewis to pull the limo up onto the ice. The team's leader, Jesse Hall, tells him he is in the "wrong hood" and sarcastically threatens to use his eyeballs as hockey pucks. However, Bombay tells him otherwise, and sticks his hand into his coat slowly, giving the impression he is gonna pull out a weapon, scaring the team. When Lester Averman says his team sucks, Bombay quipped "I'll decide who sucks around here." Unfortunately, he would not need a minute to think, as the team literally lacked the skill to play hockey, as Bombay observed in shame. Connie Moreau introduces herself to Bombay and asks him if he plays hockey, to which he answers no. He proceeds to know what the team's record is in the standings, with Connie saying they're 0-9, but almost scored a goal in their last game.

The team's first game with Bombay at the helm is against Bombay's old team: the Hawks, the team from the snooty suburb of Edina. Reilly is still head coach and remains bitter about Gordon's shortcoming in that fateful game. District 5 gets pummeled and after Bombay berates the team for not listening to him, the players challenge his authority.

Meanwhile, Bombay discovers his old mentor and family friend Hans, who owns a nearby sporting goods store, was in attendance. While visiting him, Bombay recalls that he quit playing hockey after losing his father four months before the championship game. Hans encourages him to rekindle his childhood passion. Bombay approaches Ducksworth to sponsor the team, to which he reluctantly agrees.

The result is a complete makeover for the team, both in look (as they can now buy professional equipment) and in skill (as Bombay has more time to teach the kids hockey fundamentals). Now playing as the "Ducks", they fight to a tie in the next game and recruit three new players: figure-skating siblings Tommy and Tammy Duncan and slap shot specialist and enforcer Fulton Reed. The potential of Ducks player Charlie Conway catches Bombay's eye and he takes him under his wing.

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Bombay learns that star player for the Hawks, Adam Banks, actually resides in the Ducks' district boundaries and threatens Reilly into transferring Banks to the Ducks. After hearing the out-of-context quote about them, Peter and Karp show their frustration and disappointment in Bombay, and protest by throwing their jerseys to the ground. The other Ducks lose faith in Bombay and revert to their old habits, with only Charlie and Fulton skating on the ice before the next game. Bombay is forced to forfeit as a result.

Ducksworth makes a deal with Reilly and Adam's father Philip about keeping him on the Hawks, however Bombay refuses since it would be against fair-play, which Ducksworth berated him about when he started his community service. Left with either the choice of letting his team down or get fired from his job, Bombay takes the latter.

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Bombay manages to win back the Ducks' trust and Adam Banks proves to be a valuable asset. The Ducks manage to make it to the championship against the Hawks. Despite the Hawks' heavy attacks taking Banks out of the game, the Ducks manage to score a tie and earn a penalty shot in the final seconds of the game. Bombay encourages Charlie to take the shot, reassuring him that even if he fails it will be alright. Charlie manages to score a goal using a technique Gordon taught him.

After the championship, Bombay boards a bus headed to a minor-league tryout. Although he seems daunted at the prospect of going up against younger players, he receives the same words of encouragement and advice from the Ducks he had given them, promising he will return next season to defend their title.

### *D2: The Mighty Ducks*

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Gordon Bombay becomes a star in the minor leagues and is expected to make it to the NHL soon. However, after a career-ending knee injury, he returns to Minneapolis. He arrives via bus, needing crutches to get around as part of his recovery. Not long after, a car pulls up and it is revealed to be Hans' brother Jan. Bombay is then offered a chance to coach a team representing the United States in the Junior Goodwill Games. Team USA consists of many of the old Ducks, in addition to five new players with special talents.

The lure of celebrity personality becomes a distraction to Bombay, who begins to neglect the team in exchange for a luxurious lifestyle. Fortunately, easy victories come over Trinidad and Tobago, and Italy in the double-elimination tournament. During this time, Fulton Reed and Dean Portman gain recognition for their enforcer skills, becoming known as the "Bash Brothers". Backup goaltender Julie Gaffney asks Bombay for a chance to play, but he tells her to wait, as current goalie Greg Goldberg is on a hot streak.

Reality sets in when the team suffers an embarrassing 12-1 defeat at the hands of Team Iceland, coached by ex-NHL player Wolf "The Dentist" Stansson, who is known for his tough reputation. Team USA plays badly, but Adam Banks manages to score a goal, only to get slashed in the wrist moments later. Frustrated, Bombay drives his players even harder, but they begin to suffer, completely exhausted. Eventually, the team's tutor, Michele McKay, cancels their practice and confronts Bombay, telling them they need their rest.

However, Bombay continues to suffer until one of his mentors, Jan, personally visits him, and reminds him of how he used to love the game. During a match against Team Germany, Bombay fails to arrive on time, forcing Charlie to tell the referee that Michelle is actually "Coach McKay". They play poorly, entering the third period tied, until Bombay shows up and apologizes for his behavior. Inspired by their coach's "return", the players come back to win the game and advance to the next round.

The renewed Bombay finally realizes Adam's wrist injury, benching him despite his complaints. To fill the open roster spot, Charlie recruits street hockey player, Russ Tyler, whose unique "knucklepuck" secures USA's victory over Russia (who defeated Iceland earlier), advancing USA to the championship game for a rematch against Iceland. Before the game, Adam's injury is healed and returns to Team USA's locker room, only to find they already have a full roster. Charlie gives up his spot on the roster so Adam can play, cementing his position as the true team captain.

At first, Iceland appears to be out to dominate Team USA again, but they manage to score one goal, despite several penalties that Team USA sustain from Ken Wu, the Bash Brothers, and Dwayne Robertson. Bombay is annoyed because "this isn't a hockey game, it's a circus." After a motivational locker room speech from Bombay and new Duck jerseys from Jan, the team emerges rejuvenated. The Ducks manage to tie the game when Russ outsmarts Team Iceland by disguising himself as Goldberg, so as to prevent himself from being covered and pulling off a successful "knucklepuck", to Wolf's horror. The game is forced to go to a five-shot shootout. With a 4-3 score in favor of the Ducks, Gunner Stahl (the tournament's leading scorer) is Team Iceland's final shooter.

Bombay knows Gunner favors shooting the glove side after a triple deke, and replaces Goldberg with Julie, who has a faster glove. Gunner advances on Julie and fires a hard slapshot. Although Julie falls to the ice, she slowly turns to look at her glove while the entire stadium waits in breathless anticipation. She then opens her glove and drops the puck, signifying the game-winning save. With this, the Ducks triumph over Iceland to win the tournament, earning the respect of Wolf and Team Iceland in the process.

### *D3: The Mighty Ducks*

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Sometime after the tournament, Bombay intends to take a job with the Junior Goodwill Games, which would leave him unable to coach the Ducks at Eden Hall Academy. The Ducks' struggles appear to continue as their mentor, Hans, passes away. Meanwhile Charlie lashes out and quits the team. Bombay comes to his house the day following Hans' funeral and takes Charlie back to Eden Hall.

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He tells Charlie that Orion's career with the Minnesota North Stars ended when the team moved to Dallas and he stayed to care for his paraplegic daughter. Bombay says he told Orion that Charlie was the heart and soul of the team, and it was his hope that both Orion and Charlie would learn something from each other. Touched by his words, Charlie agrees to rejoin the team.

Dean Buckley, the school's headmaster, informs the team that its board of trustees wants to revoke the Ducks' scholarships and offers Orion a chance to start anew with a team of his choice. Satisfied with the team, Coach Orion balks at the news, threatening resignation. He gets Bombay to fight for their case, which he does successfully, threatening the board with slapping them with an injunction if the Ducks are expelled from Eden Hall, swearing that no matter how long it would take, he would win in the end, and the board would face a huge financial loss from the resulting lawsuit. Faced with a no-win situation thanks to Bombay, the board, with great reluctance, reinstate the scholarships, much to the triumph of the Ducks and Orion.

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Prior to the JV-Varsity game, Orion brings back the Duck jerseys. Throughout the game, the Varsity dominates on offense. However, the Ducks keep the game scoreless after two periods. During the second intermission, Dean Portman returns to the team, adding a needed spark. Late in the game, the Ducks get two penalties and must play 5 vs 3. During the time-out, Orion renames Charlie captain and tells him to go for the win if the opportunity presents itself. With seconds left in the game, Charlie passes the puck back to Goldberg, now a defenseman, who scores into an wide-open net as time expires, securing a 1-0 victory for the Ducks.

Following the victory, Charlie embraces Orion and spots Bombay who has attended the game, and they both look across to a banner with the Ducks' logo. Bombay was able to get Eden Hall to change their mascot from the Warriors to the Ducks. Bombay, then departs the game, amid a sea of cheering fans, with a smile. Now his hockey team and his protégé Charlie Conway are in good hands with Coach Orion.

### Post-Ducks

After the events of the Eden Hall Academy hockey game, Bombay went to coach for a college team at St. Paul State University. However, he was asked to quietly resign in 2011, after purchasing supplies for a player who could not afford it, which went against league policy. He took upon the job of managing the Ice Palace hockey rink left to him by his friend, Hans, after his death. He slowly drifted away from the Ducks, who were under new leadership as they became more about being the best rather than training to be the best they could be. Bombay went to running the ice palace to keep him busy, but distanced himself enough from the sport of hockey. He entered a state of severe depression, went broke, and tried to erase hockey from his life, isolating himself to and living in the Ice Palace.

## *The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers*

### Game On

A few years later, Alex Morrow comes to him, asking if the can rent the ice, with him saying he hates hockey and initially refuses the offer. However, Alex bribes him with some money, which he needs to pay some bills, so he lets them rent the ice out for practices.

Despite his high status not being known by Alex, Evan recognizes him right away, which leaves him being pressured by both of them to help coach the team who desperately needs help. While he does not help directly, he does write down a play idea in Alex's playbook during one of their games.

### Spirit of the Ducks

Gordon is shocked to learn he was not invited to the Spirit of the Ducks gala held at Hendrix Pavilion. He is astounded when he reunites with is former players, who are now all grown up and with careers becomes especially uncomfortable when they bring up the Ducks Gala they have been invited to.

### Head Games

Bombay is named the coach of the Don't Bothers in the aftermath of the team's fallout with Alex.

## Playing style

Gordon is shown to be a superior puck handler and scorer. While smaller in stature compared to most players, he is a very proficient and fast skater, which helps make-up for the size difference between him and opposing defenders.

## Relationships

### Charlie Conway

Gordon and Charlie initially do not get along, especially after Gordon tells him to cheat one game. When Charlie disobeys his order, he gets furious with him in the locker room, but later begins to see the error of his ways and apologizes the next day. With a paternal influence out of the picture, Gordon is seen as a father figure to Charlie, and, regardless of the circumstances, both grew up without one after reaching their double digits. It is Gordon who teaches Charlie the triple deke, which would later help the Ducks win in the final round.

## Trivia

* Bombay's childhood past is similar to Wayne Gretzky, as both played hockey on a frozen pond growing up and praised their fathers for mentoring them.