Courtesy of UNBC
Every team likes having players that can play anywhere on the pitch, in any situation, at any point of the game. That’s exactly the type of player that the University of Northern British Columbia Men’s Soccer team has added today, officially announcing the commitment of Richmond product James Jordan for the 2023 Canada West season, and beyond.
“This is extremely exciting. This is something I have wanted for a while now. Playing at the next level is big for me. I really started thinking about pursuing this after high school when I was in ninth or tenth grade. When I started realizing academics mattered, I knew I really wanted to do this with my life.”
Listed as a central midfielder, Jordan plays the game with great pace and energy, defending with vigour and looking to advance the ball forward once possession has been gained. Training with Fusion FC, with coaches Shane Howard and Steve Miller, he hopes his adaptability and hunger serves him well as he makes the jump to the highest level of university sport in the country.
“I feel I am a versatile and hardworking player. Midfield is my main position, but my coach plays me all over the field. Wherever I am needed. If some player needs to be marked, if you need to score goals, I can go anywhere. I love the versatility of the game. You can do anything at any point.”
The five-foot-nine midfielder visited UNBC’s Prince George campus in March, where he had a chance to tour the campus, train with the Timberwolves varsity roster, and learn from U SPORTS National Coach of the Year, Steve Simonson.
“He has been great. He has been talking to me, personally, about a couple things I can do differently during our game scenarios. Linking up, making triangles. It has been fantastic. He is a coach unlike anyone else. It is a completely different level. The pace is so much faster, and the players are bigger and stronger than me. But it has been good. I feel I will adapt well and it will be fun.”
Simonson was extremely impressed by Jordan’s approach to the game, on and off the pitch. The 17-year-old serves as captain of his Fusion FC 2005 team, and was the program’s leading scorer at their win at the U21 VMSL Cup. The UNBC bench boss believes Jordan has the hunger to develop into a major contributor at the Canada West level.
“I am truly excited to welcome James to our program. I was really impressed with James during his visit to the school. He is an absolute fit to what we are building towards at UNBC. He is a tenacious midfielder with an incredible work rate and willingness to play both in defence and in attack. I am excited to work with James and welcome him to the Timberwolves”
Set to graduate from Hugh McRoberts Secondary in June, the Honour Roll student will enroll in UNBC’s psychology program. Jordan will join his new Timberwolf teammates for training camp in late July, and continue a soccer journey that started when he was just six years old.
“This is great. It’s a big accomplishment. I feel fantastic about it, knowing my hard work is going well and I am improving as a player.”