Jason Spezza

Jason Spezza

Jason Anthony Rocco Spezza (born June 13, 1983) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. Spezza plays for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL), but currently for Rapperswil-Jona Lakers of the Swiss National League A due to the ongoing 2012 NHL lockout. He is an alternate captain for the Senators.

After beginning his major junior career at the early age of 15 in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Spezza was selected second overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators. Playing in the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2004–05 due to the NHL lockout, he won the Les Cunningham Award as league MVP with the Binghamton Senators. In 2005–06, Spezza set an Ottawa Senators franchise record with 71 assists, while hitting the 90-point mark for the first of two times in his NHL career.

Internationally, Spezza has represented Team Canada at three World Junior Championships and two World Championships. When he made his World Junior debut in 2000, he became just the third 16-year-old in history to make the team, behind Wayne Gretzky and Eric Lindros.