Page 19 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 22

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Deke & Squeaks Bar and Grill

Presents... Then & Now, Cornwall Colts Edition:

Jesse Winchester

By Terry Tinkess the attention of the Cornwall Colts, with players like Jason Spezza, Dany
where he would play the following Heatley, Daniel Alfredsson and Chris
ometimes in life you get what season. Phillips.

Syou want. Other times you get Faced with higher calibre His first season with Ottawa was
what you deserve. If, as in the case of competition Winchester continued the proverbial cup of coffee as he
former Colt Jesse Winchester you are to improve displaying maturity and played in a single regular season
willing to work extremely hard, and work ethic that earned him the “C” on game, but did manage to get on the
devote yourself to achieving your his jersey. Looking back, Winchester score sheet with a two-minute penalty.
goal, what you want and what you says that playing with the Colts was Over the course of fi ve seasons with
deserve can end up being pretty close three of the best years of his hockey Ottawa, Winchester played a total of
to the same thing. career. 233 regular season games, scoring
Earlier this summer, Winchester, “I played three years with the Colts 11 goals and adding 41 assists for
30, signed a two-year, one-way and they were all amazing years,” 52 points, along with 121 penalty
deal to play hockey with the NHL’s says Winchester. “I made a lot of good minutes. His strength, however,
Colorado Avalanche, who are coached friends and met one of my best friends was being disciplined enough to
by coach of the year and NHL Hall (Jay Lepine) through the Colts.” be a regular on the penalty kill. His
of Fame member Patrick Roy. With a “It was three amazing years, and profi ciency in the face-off circle also
wealth of young talent, the Avalanche playing in front of your friends and placed him near the top of the league
are expected to hoist the Stanley Cup family was really great and we had percentage-wise.
sometime in the near future and now some really good teams.” All good things must come to an end,
Jesse Winchester could be a part of it. As a member of the Colts, however, and as the Ottawa Senators
He says he couldn’t have asked for a Winchester continued to attract faced a rebuilding phase, the double-
better opportunity. attention, and as a result he was whammy of injury along with the
“In the week that you’re free to talk Jesse Winchester’s maturity and successful in earning a full scholarship NHL lockout sent Winchester looking
to other teams it became clear that work ethic earned him the “C” on to Colgate University. He played four for a new place to play. He spent some
going to a team that had a chance to his jersey while with the Cornwall seasons for the Raiders, his senior year time in Finland during the lockout,
win, and so much excitement about Colts. He is a perfect example of as the team captain. In forty games but as the NHL resumed operations,
it right now,” says Winchester, “that what happens when you don’t of Division One hockey, he managed he found himself a member of the
give up. Photo courtesy of Ice
when they came calling on me for the to score 40 goals and 74 assists for Florida Panthers, where he recorded
roll that I play, and appreciating that, Level Photography. 114 points and was a member of the nine goals, nine assists for eighteen
really stressing how important it was help them win, through little things, ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team points along with 38 penalty minutes.

to fill that roll on their team, I jumped and with all their talent up-front, and three times. The Panthers, however, a team in
at the opportunity.” their youth and excitement in that The next step in Winchester’s perpetual rebuild mode, did not move
Somehow, the years have run by, regard, I fill a spot in a different way. climb up the hockey ladder came as to resign Winchester, giving him the

and Winchester and his boy-next- “I couldn’t be more excited about his collegiate career came to an end opportunity to take his talents and
door good looks have grown into a it. You know, killing penalties, I love and the NHL came calling. A number work ethic to the Avalanche.
seasoned NHL veteran. Have the doing that, and I love just being a of teams expressed interest, but when It’s a long way from walking out
Avalanche explained to him what thorn in somebody’s side. It will be all was said and done, the chance to of arenas in Morrisburg, Akwesasne
they expect? exciting.” play close to home and on a team or Williamstown and not knowing
“We haven’t had a whole lot of Hard to believe that once upon that looked poised to challenge for what the next step will be, to playing
dialogue,” says Winchester, “but I do a time, Winchester had to face the the Stanley Cup was just too much with a true Stanley Cup contender,
know that they want somebody who prospect of giving up hockey when to resist, and he decided he would but through it all Winchester never
is defensively responsible, somebody three Jr. “B” teams cut him before start his NHL career off as an Ottawa gave up, expressing his unique way
with a little bit of experience and who finally landing a spot, ironically Senator. of looking at things.

is a good teammate. I pride myself on with the Winchester Hawks. In his “I was so green, I didn’t worry “It’s not that I was really convinced
all that and hopefully I’ll be able to lone season with the Hawks he had about agents and things like that,” that I could make it (to the NHL),”
show them a bit more when the time 29 goals and 49 assists for 78 points says Winchester in looking back at says Winchester, “but I didn’t believe
comes. They see me as a guy that can in 38 games, good enough to get the opportunity to play on a team I couldn’t either.”

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