22 - JESSE GILLESPIE

Born:  February 22, 1995                Height:  6’0”                Weight:  210                ​Shoots:  Left

Jesse came to the Adanacs last summer in a trade that brought him and his brother Luke to the fold.  Raised in Maple Ridge, he first played lacrosse at age 4.  He said, “I was inspired by the toughness and speed of the game and by my Mom and Dad, because they are always in my corner cheering me on.”  In minor lacrosse, he played on Team BC and Team Fraser Valley, and was the Captain of his Midget A Provincial championship team.  Focused on defense and transition, he played 3 games as a call-up for the Langley Thunder Junior A squad in 2013, followed by 50 games as a member of the New Westminster Junior A Salmonbellies in 2014 – 2016, including as regular season champions, scoring 2 goals with 15 assists for 17 points with 67 PiM.  As a WLA rookie in 2017, Jesse played 19 games for the Maple Ridge Burrards, earning an assist with 14 PiM.  He scored his first WLA goal as an Adanac last season!  His WLA stats through last season included 1 goal and 3 assists for 4 points and 20 PiM in 27 games.  Jesse works as a tugboat deck hand.  He says, “I have a love for lacrosse, fishing and quading.  He is quick-witted and sports a genuine smile as well as a keen sense of dry humour, as evidenced by the fact that his favourite film is “Talladega Nights”.  As for preferences in music, Jesse said, “I’ll pretty much listen to anything.”  (Um, want to test that out with an afternoon of Gregorian Chants?)  He says of his girlfriend Blaire, “She’s pretty cool.” Asked to name the most important influences in his lacrosse career, Jesse said, “Definitely my mom and dad, always made sure I had everything I needed growing up to play whatever ball was required to further my game. and was always out there rooting for me, win or lose.