Jason Spezza

ice hockey player

Jason Rocco Anthony Spezza (born June 13, 1983 in Mississauga, Ontario) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. He played a total of 19 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the Ottawa Senators, Dallas Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Jason Spezza
Spezza practicing with the Maple Leafs in 2020
Born (1983-06-13) June 13, 1983 (age 40)
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 214 lb (97 kg; 15 st 4 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Right
Played for Ottawa Senators
SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers
Dallas Stars
Toronto Maple Leafs
National team  Canada
NHL Draft 2nd overall, 2001
Ottawa Senators
Playing career 2002–2022

He began his hockey career with the Brampton Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League (NHL). He also played for the Mississauga Ice Dogs for 2 seasons, the Windsor Spitfires for 2 seasons and the Belleville Bulls for 1 season. He entered the draft in 2001 and he was drafted with the 2nd overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

He was assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins, the farm team of the Senators. He was called up to the Senators and made his NHL debut in the 2002-03 NHL season. He played 33 games with the Senators and played most of the season with Ottawa's new affiliate, Binghamton Senators. He was called up and played two seasons with the Senators and was sent down to the Binghamton Senators to play a season. After that he joined the Ottawa's main roster full-time.

Spezza was on the cover of 2007 video game, NHL 2K8. He married his girlfriend Jennifer on July 25, 2009. They have two daughters Sophia Donna Spezza (born June 8, 2010) and Nicola Patricia Spezza (born April 1, 2012).[1]

On July 1, 2014, after Spezza had requested a trade, the Senators traded him along with Ludwig Karlsson to the Dallas Stars in exchange for Alex Chiasson, Alex Guptill, Nicolas Paul and a 2015 second-round pick to Ottawa.[2]

On May 29, 2022, Spezza announced that he was retiring from playing professional ice hockey. After he retired, he became an assistant to Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas.[3] On May 19, 2023, Spezza stepped down when Dubas was fired.[4]

References change

  1. "It's a girl!". Ottawa Sun. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  2. "Senators trade Spezza to Dallas, lose their captain for a second straight year". NHL. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  3. "Jason Spezza announces retirement after 19 seasons, joins Maple Leafs' front office". Sportsnet. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  4. "Jason Spezza resigns as Maple Leafs special assistant to GM". Sportsnet. Retrieved June 3, 2023.

Other websites change