Page 8 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 22

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Putting the Puzzle Together on the St. Lawrence

By Terry Tinkess

ou never know who you might meet when

Yyou’re out fishing on the St. Lawrence. It
could be a neighbor from down the street, a family
on vacation, or an experience angler, who has been
out on the water for too many years to remember

and caught too many fish to count.
It might even be an NHL hockey player like

Jesse Winchester, who has traded deep-sea fishing
off the Florida coast for the pristine mountain lakes
of Colorado. When the season is over, however, it
is time to return home and there is no place where
Winchester feels at home more than on the mighty
St. Lawrence.
It’s been an interesting time for Winchester, 30.
After battling injury, and the NHL lockout, he had
a short but enjoyable stint in Finland, but when
the 2013-2014 season began he found himself as a
Florida Panther.

Not too bad, the fishing in Florida is a little

different, but unfortunately, he didn’t get much
chance to experience it.
“You know what, the season was so busy with
the Olympics I didn’t have much of a chance,”
says Winchester. “In the latter stages I started
going out for a few hours in the little community

where I lived, catching a few bass here and there. Local fisherman and member of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche Jesse Winchester with his
I got Erik Gudbransson (Florida defenseman) second Muskie of the week. His smile says it all. Photo supplied by Jesse Winchester.
hooked on it. We had a lot of fun but it wasn’t like
a regular thing. Ontario. It is something he is always willing to favourite spot,” he says. “I love fi guring out the

talk about. river. I don’t keep many fish; just grab a photo and
Travel from Florida is also a bit different than then release. I just like the puzzle of it, the game.
Winchester had experience in Ottawa, with most “Glad you asked,” beamed Winchester. “I just

road trips taking him away from home for a week caught my first-ever Muskie today. I didn’t get a “I just love being out there; it’s peaceful and it
at a time. Still, he managed to find time to feed weight on it, because the water is really warm and keeps me out of trouble.”

the beast. you have to be careful handling them, but it was As anyone who gets up in the morning to greet
about 50 inches, a real monster.”
“After the season we were out on the ocean, the sun will tell you, there is no better time of day.
Gudbransson and I went on a trip and went deep They say that in order to have calmness and It is that way for Winchester.

sea fishing. It was a lot of fun.” some sort of order in your life you need to find “If I could do it every morning, I’d love it. Now I
“a rock,” something that you can latch onto
Now, as a member of the Colorado Avalanche get up early on the weekends, because I train every
when things seem to be moving way too fast. For

Winchester will be in close proximity to those cool, Winchester, it is fishing, and his memories go way morning during the week. That always comes first.

mountain streams. He is really looking forward to On weekends though, I’m up at the crack of dawn

back. “I can remember fishing with my dad and
the opportunity. and head out to explore.
my grandfather, so I guess it was them that got me
“I am going out early, so I can meet the team and started. It’s very relaxing.” Winchester comes by his love of the natural world
get settled, so you know, on the weekend I may In the NHL, Winchester is known as a defensive through his parents and other family members, and

find somebody who can take me up there and see he shares his passion with his companion Alana,
specialist, a player who analyses the game,
the trout, but I’m not experienced in that so I’ll be taking in all the information he can in order to who, along with their dog, will be accompanying
relying on somebody to help me.” him on their latest adventure in Colorado. When
gain an advantage. He approaches fishing, and

The majority of the fishing Winchester has the St. Lawrence in somewhat the same way. “I the games are over though, it is back on the St.

managed to fit in has been right here in eastern love exploring, so I don’t think I really have one Lawrence he longs to be.