Over 100 people from the Wallaceburg area made the trek up the 401 on Sunday to watch their hometown’s newest professional athlete.
And Jordan Durston was thrilled to see so many familiar faces.
“Everything about it was great… other than our team not getting the win,” Durston told the Sydenham Current.
“But it being my first game in Toronto and then having so many people come support me was amazing. I can’t thank them enough for it.”
Jamie Knight, a fixture with the Wallaceburg Minor Lacrosse Association and Jordan’s uncle, said the kids who made the trip had the opportunity to play on the Air Canada Centre floor before the game, and also come out of the Toronto Rock fan tunnel.
Knight said he was proud to see all the support for his nephew.
“Wallaceburg and Walpole are great at supporting our kids, always have been,” Knight said.
Knight said the kids got a special visit from Jordan himself as well.
“I think Jordan sneaking on the floor to surprise them all was the kicker, lots of smiles,” Knight said.
Durston said it was a cool experience to meet with the kids on the floor.
“Not too many of them said anything to me, one did mention he had the first goal for his team,” he said.
“But I think they were all amazed at what was going on and it was funny when we were getting pictures it took a while to get going because half the kids were turned around facing me rather than the camera, but it was awesome. The kids looked like they loved it and props to the Rock for letting them do all that.”
As many of the Wallaceburg fans took a bus from Wallaceburg to Toronto and back for the game, Knight said his nephew gave him some gifts to hand out to the Wallaceburg Lacrosse kids.
“We met him for breakfast and he gave me autographed player cards for every kid that made the trip and he put a message on everyone of them on the back and it said ‘To the Best in the League 🙂 #78’ A nice tribute to our fans, pretty classy.”
The game itself between the Toronto Rock and Durston’s Vancouver Stealth was not the outcome everyone was hoping for.
Toronto came out on top 9-6, while Durston chipped in with one assist.
Knight said it was nerve racking to watch his nephew play LIVE and in person in the NLL.
“I’m extremely emotional… I just know how much he has put into his career and how bad I want him to succeed,” he said.
“You know he does a lot of the things most players don’t like to do… set the picks, hunt down loose balls and be a team player. Makes me really proud to see him not play, but excel at that level in his rookie season.”
Durston said he is happy with how things have gone so far in his first season.
“Yeah I think it has being going great,” Durston said.
“I’m getting floor time, chipping in with a point or two a night. So it has been well, the guys are awesome and are treating me very well and it has been a great experience so far. I cant wait to learn more.”
In nine games so far this season Durston has 11 goals and 11 assists for 22 points.
In their next game, Vancouver (3-7) will host Saskatchewan (6-3) on Saturday, March 19.
– Photo credit: Vancouver Stealth
