Jesse Wilson Bio [1/2]

[monkeywrench15 220]

Jesse Wilson Biography

 

Jesse Wilson was born and raised in Kingston, Ontario. An only child who grew up loving the Maple Leafs in Toronto and worshipping certain players growing up. That being said, Jesse wasn't a hockey player first but an athlete who played both soccer and baseball growing up. In grade school Jesse wanted to become the next blue jays outfielder in a line of great ones. Many heartbreaking baseball stories later, he decided that baseball wasn't for him and he wasn't having a lot of fun. So Jesse dropped baseball and picked up hockey. His soccer attitude changed once he picked up a hockey stick and hit the ice. He seemed to think less of soccer and chose to stay with the one sport he would have butterflies in his stomach the night before over.

 

When he was really young he chose to play hockey with his friends and always felt like it could be a big thing for him but his parents wouldn't have the money for. However, because of a government grant, his family was able to afford the equipment to get Jesse started in the game of hockey.

 

His first season didn't go very well as his transition from the turf to the ice was hard. His skiing was very weak and he didn't really know the game outside of watching some bad maple leafs games growing up. His work ethic was always high though and his coaches praised his ability to want to soak up all the information he could. It came a time when Jesse applied himself so much that his parents enrolled him in a hockey academy at his local middle school. Jesse was a standout and the coaches said he could become something if he learned how to skate to the best of his ability and glide into his stride. Jesse applied himself and really put an effort in before and after practice to do the little things and change his stride. Wilson become a very good skater and knew that he know had to refine his game in way to make him more of a complete player. His coaches helped him picked up most of the game but he was still very raw.

 

In highschool games he played as a left winger because his team couldn't afford him to slip up on the blue line and give up a costly breakaway to the other team. Jesse adjusted though and when he finally got things down they thought it would be best to stick him back on the blue line and let him reach his potential. Jesse was always a taller kid in school and they knew if he wanted to become better he would have to fill out. He was rail thin at one point and so at the age of sixteen he was in the gym preparing himself for a career in hockey; no matter what level it took him to.

 

Wilson would be scouted by the OJHL team in Kingston known as the Voyageurs and it is there where he would develop some great habits. Wilson became a sponge and soaked up all the info he could from teammates, coaches, parents and scouts to try and groom his game and hopefully one day become a professional. Wilson learned how to play the man and be more of a presence in front of his own net in clearing out opposing players. His size started to come in handy as he wasn't taken as a pylon by other players and his coaches trust grew with him. In the OJHL is where he found his physical style too. Known as a shy player growing up, he wasn't one to rely on his size as a way of demanding his own space; but that changed. Jesse started to throw his weight around but without taking costly penalties and it was great as they started to use him in penalty killing roles with his positioning skill.

 

One of the biggest knocks on Wilson is that he is quiet, but that stems from him not being the most confident in his position and not fully understanding the game. At seventeen years old it is easy for scouts and fans to see that he has a lot of growing left to do in regards to his on ice ability.

 

Wilson is hoping to get the chance with the Ottawa Lynx to prove that he can play the game at a high level and hopefully be a professional after his stint with the Lynx. So far the coaching adjustment hasn't been too bad but he does think he has a lot more things to learn. Not bad for a kid who started out thinking he would be the next blue jays centre fielder and be a defensive ace in baseball. 

Jesse Wilson was a big Maple Leafs fan as said earlier, so obviously his influences are very Maple Leaf heavy. Tomas Kaberle and Dion Phaneuf were two players that Wilson watched a lot. Jesse said that he enjoyed watching Tomas for his ability to find the one man and be a perfect set up man. Watching Dion for his physical play was something he enjoyed as well, but not so much for his positioning as his coaches told him that Dion was a lazy defender. His favourite player of all-time was Mats Sundin because he was the captain of the Maple Leafs and he was the best player for almost a decade in the organization. Sundin is the reason Wilson wears number 13 wherever he goes. Wilson is hoping he can lead by example in the future as well because he sees himself as somewhat of a leader when he knows what he is doing. As scouts have stated, he is still raw but he is someone that coaches can work with and gain an appreciation for down the road. Next stop is Ottawa and he is hoping to patrol their third defensive pair very shortly in the future here.

 

 

Jesse Wilson is eligible in the upcoming victory hockey league entry draft and right now is penciled to go in the fourth round.

[bagelbitesisbae 71]

Firstly, great job, man! Though, I think that you didn't need so many indivdual paragraphs. It also could've looked more aesthetically pleasing. Overall though, very descriptive and fun to read!