Senators Articles: To Spezza, Canada's a safe bet in All-Star Game
February 13, 2005

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: Scott Lauber of Press Connects.com

To Spezza, Canada's a safe bet in All-Star Game

BY SCOTT LAUBER

Press & Sun-Bulletin

ALBANY -- Jason Spezza simply adores statistics. He can't get enough. So it came as no surprise the other day when the Binghamton Senators center began reciting the recent history of AHL all-star games.

"He's been dragging out the last 10 years of all-star history," defenseman Brian Pothier said, shaking his head in wonder. "He says PlanetUSA hasn't won in five years or something. I don't even know if that's true. But knowing Spezz, I wouldn't doubt it."

When it comes to stats, you don't doubt Spezza. The Canadian all-stars are riding a five-year winning streak and Spezza will help try to make it six straight against Pothier, defenseman Anton Volchenkov, rookie winger Brandon Bochenski and the other PlanetUSA all-stars Monday night in Manchester, N.H.

After Saturday's game here against the Albany River Rats, the Senators' four all-stars were whisked by limousine to Manchester, where they'll participate in tonight's skills competition before a sold-out crowd at Verizon Wireless Arena.

And it's a good bet they placed some friendly bets along the way.

"It's always nice when you can beat three of your teammates," said Spezza, who ensured there'd be plenty of trash talking. "There's probably a good chance there might be a few wagers."

Spezza, who began play Saturday evening as the AHL's leading scorer with 74 points, was voted by fans to start for the Canadian team. Pothier and Bochenski were picked by the AHL's coaches to play for PlanetUSA, and Volchenkov was named this week to replace injured Norfolk Admirals defenseman Anton Babchuk.

For Spezza, this is his second AHL all-star appearance. He was chosen as a rookie in 2002-03 when Pothier represented the Senators in a 10-7 Canada victory in Portland, Maine. Spezza will also be looking to reprise his 2003 title in the puck-control relay portion of the skills competition.

Bochenski is one of three rookies who'll be playing in the game with Norfolk's Rene Bourque and Albany's Zach Parise, Bochenski's former linemate at the University of North Dakota. Volchenkov is headed to the All-Star Game in his first AHL season after playing two years in the NHL.

"It should be fun," Spezza said. "There's going to be a lot of fans there, and you get to see a lot of guys from other teams who you play against all year."

Senators executive vice president Tom Mitchell was the fifth member of Binghamton's all-star contingent. He'd been talking all week about the AHL Board of Governors hockey game scheduled for this weekend.