Wallaceburg’s Jordan Durston scored two goals on Friday night in his National Lacrosse League debut with the Vancouver Stealth.
In the opening quarter of his first game, Durston stole the ball away from a Saskatchewan Rush defender deep in the their zone, and while diving across the crease, fired it past the right shoulder of the goaltender.
“I just wanted to have fun out there in my first game,” Durston told stealthlax.com. “To see that first one go in was an amazing feeling. Everything happened so fast and was just happy to see it go in. It will be a moment I will never forget.”
Durston scored his second of the game before the end of the first quarter. The Stealth went on to beat the defending champion Rush, 13-11.
Ever since a young age, local athlete Durston has been a dominate player on any playing surface.
The time Durston spent being active with his friends helped make him the athlete he is today.
“As a kid, I grew up playing competitive hockey and lacrosse,” Durston told the Sydenham Current earlier this week. “But away from the arena I remember playing every sport I could possibly play with my friends. Staying active and playing the ‘school yard’ way is an important reason why I am where I am today.”
Just about every competitive sport available in Wallaceburg, Durston made sure he was involved.
During his seven season junior ‘C’ hockey career, Durston managed to pick up 123 career points in 136 contests, including playoffs.
As a Wallaceburg Red Devil, Durston dazzled opponents and spectators alike.
With his fun and exciting style of play, Durston picked up a mind-boggling 418 points in 89 games played, including playoffs.
As a Wallaceburg Tartan, Durston played just about every sport available at the school. Durston was a member of the back-to-back undefeated Kent and SWOSSAA football championship team. He was the workhorse fullback for the Tartans, blocking for AKO Fratmen star Dan Fox and University of Queens running back Jonah Pataki, among others.
Durston was drafted to the junior ‘A’ Six Nations Arrows in 2011.
In 2013 when he suited up for the Arrows full-time, he made an immediate impact, helping them win back-to-back Minto Cup Championships in 2014 and 2015. In 89 contests, Durston was able to find twine 105 times and assist 150 goals for a total of 255 points.
After a successful junior lacrosse career, all the hard worked paid off September 28, 2015.
Durston was selected 19th overall by the National Lacrosse Leagues’ Vancouver Stealth. And it was announced he will be suiting up for them full-time through their 2016 campaign.
In the local lacrosse world, Durston has been a role model and mentor even before he was drafted. He has always been an exciting player to watch and is always there to mentor young lacrosse players.
“I feel like I’ve always been the guy to set the bar high in sports,” Durston said. “It’s an honor to be one of the few athletic role models in a small town. Everyone knows you and is totally backing you up with whatever it is you are doing; I am very thankful for that.”
– Story by Zac Nicholson
– Photo credit: Vancouver Stealth
