Ducks rookie Dan Sexton shreds at Honda Center

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The first two goals of Ducks rookie Dan Sexton’s NHL career sparked a huge comeback in a 4-3 overtime victory against Dallas on Tuesday, setting off the first delirious celebration of the season at the Honda Center.

Not so long ago, he wasn’t even the most noted athlete born into his family on April 29, 1987.

His fraternal twin, Joe Sexton, is a professional snowboarder.

‘He’s unbelievable ... probably a top 20 or 30 guy in the world,’ Dan Sexton said. ‘He came to my game against Ottawa. He probably hadn’t seen me play since I was 16, and he was at Big Bear for, like, a photo shoot, and I gave him some tickets and got him down here, and we went out to eat afterward. It was really cool to see him. It was pretty sweet.’

Dan Sexton arrived in style in only his third NHL game, scoring two goals in the third to propel the Ducks to the overtime victory. But his road to the NHL has been a twisting one. He never was drafted, and that wasn’t even the worst moment of his career.

‘Tough moments? Probably getting cut from my junior team when I was 19 years old,’ Sexton said. He went on to play two seasons of college hockey at Bowling Green in Ohio, and the Ducks signed him to a two-year free-agent contract last April.

‘Three or four years ago, I was in no position to even dream about this, so it’s pretty cool,’ he said.

Click here for a glimpse of Joe Sexton on a snowboard.

Dan Sexton said he’ll stick to skates.

‘I’ve never snowboarded in my life,’ he said. ‘He discovered extreme sports and just kind of ran with it.’

There’s one thing Joe could stand to learn from Dan, though: Dan wears a helmet.

-- Robyn Norwood