"It was the best experience of my life."
That was the simple text message that Jesse Winchester '08 had sent to the Colgate athletics department after his NHL debut on Saturday night.
Winchester, a dominant force for the Raiders hockey team the past four years, jumped directly to the NHL after being signed by the Ottawa Senators three days after the Raiders season ended.
In his first game as a pro, he logged 14 minutes of ice time, getting a shot on goal and collecting his first penalty, for boarding. The Senators, though, lost to the Bruins, 4-0.
Winchester grew up in a town 45 minutes outside of Ottawa, and was thrilled to get the free-agent contract for the team he's followed his entire life.
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| Jesse Winchester '10 stands behind teammate Dean McAmmond during a recent Senators practice. |
"It's a dream come true," Winchester said. "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. "
A two-time all-ECAC Hockey selection, Winchester finished second on the team with 37 points, including a league-leading 29 assists, in 40 games this season. He skated in 142 games during his career, and finished with 114 points, which ranks 32nd on Colgate's all-time scoring list.
Anticipating that he might have a chance to play in the NHL this year, Winchester worked diligently for the past several months to make sure he would complete his degree requirements. He will graduate with a concentration in geography in May.
Two other seniors are finalizing plans for their professional careers.
Goalie Mark Dekanich was selected by the Nashville Predators in the fifth round of the 2006 NHL draft. He is soon expected to sign a two-year contract and will be playing for the team's AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, in the coming weeks.
Tyler Burton has signed an amateur tryout agreement with the Lowell (Mass.) Devils, the AHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils. Burton led both the Raiders and the ECAC in scoring this year with 23 goals and 18 assists, for 41 points.