McKinnion eyes university lacrosse

Times Reporter   

 

Strathmore lacrosse player Jordan McKinnnon played defence in hockey but did not quite enjoy that as much as he did lacrosse. 

Lacrosse was the game he felt more passionate about and a sport he wanted to further advance in. 

Since beginning box lacrosse in 2005, McKinnon’s wanted to play with some higher caliber teams. 

Highlights of his young career so far started with trying out and making the 2012 Alberta Summer Games team where he won a silver medal. In 2013, he played for the Okotoks Raiders midget-A  team where they won silver. 

He also played Tier II Junior B lacrosse in Okotoks with the Ice where he played seven games and had a point-per-game streak. 

This past season he co-captained the Rockyview Rage to a gold medal at the Ice Breaker tournament in Edmonton.

He also had taken interest in field lacrosse where his performance got better as the games meant more. Most recently he played on the Mustangs Starz lacrosse program out of Calgary where the team played in an All Canadian Field tournament in Oshawa, Ont. He was also a part of that same team that won gold at the 2014 provincials in Red Deer.

The success began in 2012 when he tried out for the Alberta Summer Games team.

“It all started when I was second year bantam and I tried out for the Alberta Summer Games. I made that team, the games were in Lethbridge and we had a triple overtime game against Calgary Zone 3 team and we lost and got silver,” said McKinnon.

This is where McKinnon got a feeling of higher end lacrosse and wanted to continue on with that high pace of play, and made the team in Okotoks the next season.

“I went to Okotoks just for a higher level, Strathmore only had B level and I was good enough to go play A (league) in Okotoks,” said McKinnon.

If he had stayed in Strathmore he would still have played the game he loves.

“(Jordan) would have continued playing the game, but when you can play at the highest level possible that the area provides – it’s like triple-A hockey – you want to try to play with the best and be the best,” said Jordan’s father Wayne.

McKinnon is hopeful to play at an NCAA school upon completion of high school, but will not be eligible until 2017.

“I would like to get, if possible, a scholarship from a school somewhere,” said McKinnon.

Currently, he is undecided on where to play next season as he holds roster spots on three different teams.

“As far as we know up to this point in time he has roster spots on an Okotoks Tier I team, Rockyview Tier I team and his home team the Venom in Strathmore,” said Wayne.

McKinnon is keeping his options for the future with lacrosse and would like to compete as long as he can.