Thursday, October 02, 2008

Picking a New Favourite

In my quest to figure out how to deal with my "Losing Redden to the Rangers" issue, there has been one recommendation from family & friends that seems to keep coming up:

Find a new player to adore.

I didn't think it was possible. Nor did I particularly want to put that time & energy again into following one specific player, learning as much about him as I possibly could, both on & off the ice. It could be a draining activity, loving Wade the way I did. My real hard-core research into the man and the player basically took place when I was a young and foolish teen, when I had nothing better to do than read about him obsessively. At least, it was a diversion from homework and the stress & anxiety of being a teenager, right?


But now, in my mid-twenties, it would seem a little silly to get that wrapped up in a hockey star. So, despite my friends willing me join them in the Mike Fisher Fan Club, I decided to lay off that and just cheer for the team in general. (Although, Mike's beautiful blue eyes and killer grin do make it hard to resist...)
I love the Ottawa Senators. I really do. I love Fisher, I worship Alfie, and from time to time, I can even get on the Jason Spezza bandwagon. However, in the early stages of this hockey season, I've yet to feel truly excited about this team. It occured to me that perhaps I really should start looking for one guy to throw my support behind in order to anticipate watching Sens hockey again.

I decided it should be a new guy, so that we both start out fresh together. Besides, any of the hot players who are already on the team (yes, I'm talking about Fish) I hold a slight grudge against, because I felt they stole Wade's thunder in the hotness department.

So yes, it had to be a new player. But rookies? They're so young. I'd feel a little creepy "falling in love" with a 19-year-old. And other than them, who am I suppose to pick? Jarkko Ruutu? Filip Kuba? I don't even know how to spell their names, and I have no clue what they look like.

Then, last night, it hit me. I opened the Ottawa Citizen, and on the front page of the NHL preview supplement, there was a picture of one of the newest Senators, looking smokin' hot in his Sens sweater and jeans, staring at the camera with a very intense gaze.

My new favourite player...(drum roll please....) is.......

Jesse Winchester!!!
He's a rookie, but he's 24-years-old - right in my wheelhouse! Prior to joining the Senators last spring, he spent 4 years playing for the Colgate University Red Raiders of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Association (ECAC), for whom he acted as captain last season. He's from the Long Sault. He plays centre, shoots right, is 6’1”, and weighs in at 215 lbs. In camp, he found himself on the top line with Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley, although Alfie's already bumped him from that line (at least for a little while).

That's about all the Jesse Winchester knowledge I've garnered so far in my very limited research this morning, but I'm sure I'll keep collecting and sharing with you in the weeks to come. You've been warned...There's a new kid on my block, and I really really like him, so you're going to hear much more about him!!

Will he ever replace Wade Redden? Not likely. I don't expect anyone will ever replace Wade Redden in my world.

But who knows. If Jesse sticks around for as long as Wade did, you never know what might happen.

GO SENS GO!!

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I thought you were going to go with Vermy, which would have made Meghan happy

Jill said...

Nope, don't really find him attractive, unfortunately. Meghan can have him! lol

Anonymous said...

i dont see what the big deal was finding a new guy to love when there is always Fisher!!!!

Stacy

Anonymous said...

Mmmm Fisher! Have you seen him with his shirt off? That might change your mind! This Jesse guy has a baby face I think.
Stacy - I will email you some pictures!

Anonymous said...

Love the pics Priscilla...it's almost like he's our best friend or something...haha!

Stacy

Jill said...

Who are the pics of, Fisher? Send them to me, I could change my mind yet. lol

Jill said...

Oh, and the pics I posted of Jesse don't really do him justice - the one in the Citizen last night was tres hot. Couldn't find it online, tho.

Anonymous said...

K I'll send it to you too Jill.

Anonymous said...

But I didn't think you were a fan, so you don't really deserve to see them! jk

Jill said...

I do like Fisher, and I do think he's hot, he's just not Wade, that's all! Fun pics though, Stacy's right - it's like we've known him all our lives now...haha!!!

Anonymous said...

The Habs will smash the Sens this year.

Anonymous said...

Awesome blog Jill!

I know, I'm a bit late, but I've been swamped at work.

Jill said...

Thanks Sharon!

I'm not scared of those Habs...

Anonymous said...

I don't have to sing the praises of the Montreal Canadiens, the greatest MF-ing franchise in the history or hockey on your blog, Jill. No, I really don't need to, you will see when the season starts.