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Winchester Stays Close to Home

'Dream come true' for Winchester Rob Brodie Ottawa Senators Mar 24, 2008, 5:45 PM EDT Jesse Winchester is staying close to home to start his professional hockey career.

The free-agent forward, a Long Sault, Ont., native, signed a one-year contract Monday with the Ottawa Senators. For a 24-year-old prospect from the Cornwall area, there couldn't be a better place to take his next hockey step.

"It's a dream come true," an excited Winchester said Monday. "It's something that's been a goal, to at least start a pro career someday. Now I'm lucky enough to have that be with a hometown team.

"I can't even explain it. It's pretty hard (to put it into words)."

A 6-foot-1, 215-pound forward, Winchester describes himself as "a smart, two-way player who can make some plays. I'm a hard worker and I love being at the rink every day."

The contract signing capped an emotional weekend for Winchester. Saturday night in Albany, N.Y., he played his final NCAA hockey game for the Colgate Red Raiders, who dropped a 4-2 decision to 20th-ranked Cornell in the third-place game of the East Coast Athletic Conference hockey championship.

"I wouldn't trade a thing," he said about his time at the Hamilton, N.Y., school, for whom he scored 40 goals and 114 points in 143 games. "It was the best four years of my life, on the ice and off the ice, growing as a person in the classroom.

"It's a special school, a special place and I've been blessed with great friends and a great support system around me."

Winchester, who majored in geography, had mixed feelings when he pulled off his Red Raiders jersey for the final time.

"I know I'm not going to be sitting with my best buddies that I've lived with for four years anymore," said Winchester, who was the team's captain this season was twice named the ECAC's player of the week. "At the same time, it was great to finish up the way we did, having a memorable run.

"Now I'm looking forward to the future and seeing where I can go from here."

His Colgate career followed a three-year stint with the Cornwall Colts of the Central Junior Hockey League. Before that, Winchester started into junior hockey with - ironically enough - the Winchester Hawks of the Eastern Ontario Junior B league.

"It was pretty cool," he said about life as a Winchester playing in Winchester. "When I'd score a goal, they'd announce it a different way. My mom had some family in that town, so it was nice to be able to play there and start my move upward."

Even nicer now, too, to jump into pro hockey so close to home.

"I've followed the (Senators) organization pretty closely," he said. "I've followed numerous guys (on the team). It's a great group of players and I'm lucky I'll be able to meet them and hopefully skate with them sooner rather than later."

CJHL Grads Among Best 10 in NCAA

The Hobey Baker Finalists include former Cumberland Grad Simon Lambert (R.I.T) and Pembroke Lumber King Ryan Lasch (St. Cloud State)!

Former Colt Winchester Signs NHL Contract with Senators

Cornwall Colts graduate Jesse Winchester has signed a free agent contract with the NHL Ottawa Senators. Winchester attended Colgate University for the past four seasons in Hamilton, NY on a hockey scholarship after starring for the Colts in the CJHL. The stable process of graduating from high school at home and then attending university has again been proven to be the best path for those who have an interest in pursuing both hockey and academics. As a young player, Winchester was never drafted to Major Junior and made the Colts for the first time at 17 after a year of Junior B. He is another great example of perseverance and shows that taking a patient path leads to the best opportunity. For parents and players, this is proof that making decisions in haste at a young age can only limit chances, not create them. By taking this route, Winchester is a university graduate with a professional career ahead. The CJHL applauds another member of it's alumni!

Former CJHL Goalie Taylor Makes NHL Debut

Saturday was a quiet day in the CJHL but no so for two ex-players who made their NHL debut. While we've recognized Jesse Winchester signing with the Ottawa Senators (he made his NHL debut Saturday), former Cumberland goalies Danny Taylor made his first NHL appearance for the Los Angeles Kings in the third period Saturday versus Dallas. Check the link for the NHL bio on Danny Taylor.

CJHL Grad Clitsome Graduates....Signs NHL Deal

Former Nepean Raider Grant Clitsome recently finished his collegiate career at Clarkson University and has signed with the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets. Click the link to read the release from the Clarkson website.

O'Dell named to Team Canada U18

Cumberland Grad alumni Eric O'Dell, who played in the CJHL until January this season, has been named to Team Canada for the World Under 18 Championship. O'Dell is the only player on the team that played Junior A this season and reflects the excellent calibre of play in the CJHL and the outstanding developmental role Junior A hockey plays in the Hockey Canada system. Congratulations to Eric and best of luck there and at the NHL Draft in June!