Quickstrike Niagara
Passing the Spark: Inspiring the Next Generation
Jordan Engineering has proudly sponsored Quickstrike Niagara (FIRST Robotics Team 6978) for many years. In 2025, that support deepended when one of our engineers, Ben Van der Zalm, stepped in as a programming mentor. This was a full circle moment for Ben, whose own passion for engineering was sparked during his time as a member of his high school robotics team.
"I was excited at the chance to inspire the next generation the way I had been inspired."
- Ben Van der Zalm, Jordan Engineering Programming Mentor, Quickstrike Niagara
FIRST Robotics and its software were new territory for Ben, so he and the students learned together from the ground up: late nights at the workshop, plenty of trial and error, and a shared determination to constantly improve their design. As the second mentor on the team named Ben, to prevent any confusion, the team decided to index the two mentors. The other Ben became "Ben 0" and Jordan's became "Ben 1", which, in Ben's words, felt very fitting for a robotics team.
2026 FRC Season
4th
McMaster Event Finish
Provincial Ranking
38/120
34th
In the Provincial Championships
Quickstrike opened their 2026 FRC season at the McMaster University event, finishing 4th overall and earning 37 district points. They followed up a few weeks later at Niagara College, earning an additional 25 points. These results allowed the team to qualify for the Ontario Provincial Championship held in Niagara Falls, where they advanced to the divisional semi-finals and finished the season ranked 38th out of 120 teams in Ontario.
"What impressed me the most was the dedication and determination of every single member of Quickstrike, and the way they worked together to be ready for each competition."
- Ben Van der Zalm, Jordan Engineering Programming Mentor, Quickstrike Niagara
We're proud to support a team that embodies the same values that define much of what we do: precision, persistence, and the belief that the best results come from learning together.
Ben hopes to return as a mentor for the 2026/ 2027 season. We can't wait to see what these incredible students pull off next!
