After playing midget hockey with the Yorkton Mallers of the SMHL, Hordichuk joined the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League (WHL) for 3 games in the 1996–97 season. The next year would see Hordichuk playing with the Dauphin Kings of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL), a Junior 'A' league. In 58 games with the Kings, Hordichuk had 12 goals and 33 points, as well as 279 penalty minutes. He would spend the next two seasons in the WHL, playing with the Saskatoon Blades, where he had 515 penalty minutes in 129 games, including 73 fights.