Senators Articles: Spezza sharpening skills in other facets of game
February 14, 2005

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: Tris Wykes of Press Connects.com

Spezza sharpening skills in other facets of game

B-Sens' center wins puck control relay in All-Star Game skills competition

BY TRIS WYKES

Correspondent

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- When the media was granted access to the locker rooms Sunday afternoon at the Verizon Wireless Arena, a small pack of reporters quickly surrounded Jason Spezza.

In town to participate in the AHL All-Star Classic, along with Binghamton Senators teammates Brandon Bochenski, Brian Pothier and Anton Volchenkov, Spezza fielded question after question about the impending shutdown of the NHL season.

"We've just put that out of our minds playing here in the American League and tried not to focus on it too much," said Spezza, a third-year pro who has 76 points in 111 career NHL games and who leads the AHL in scoring with 74 points.

The lockout is "something you wanted to stay optimistic about but it doesn't look like it's going to turn out the way everyone wants it to. You hope there's a last ditch effort by both sides and they can reach a compromise."

With discussion of NHL doom rampant at the AHL's mid-winter showcase, Spezza was careful to toe the Players' Association party line, insisting that the union is united and few members would bolt should the NHL eventually recruit replacement players for a restarted circuit.

"You want to see the game start up again, but it has to be under the right circumstances," said Spezza, a member of the AHL's Canadian All-Stars and whose contract with the parent Ottawa Senators expires after this season. "If there's not a change in stance by the owners, it's pretty tough for a deal to be made."

Spezza said he'd consider playing next season in Europe, but right now he's enjoying an expansive role with Binghamton, on and off the ice.

"I'm playing a lot of minutes and getting a chance to take big faceoffs and kill penalties," said Spezza. "I was just an offensive guy my first couple of years and now I'm expected to play a bigger role. I'm expected to be more of a leader in the dressing room and I think I'll be a better player in the NHL because of my opportunity to play here this year."

In Sunday's All-Star Skills Competition, won by PlanetUSA 17-13, the Spezza, Volchenkov and Bochenski competed in the breakaway relay contest. Spezza was also featured in the puck control relay, winning for the second time in three seasons, and pass-and-score event.

Bochenski and Volchenkov, members of the PlanetUSA team, each competed in the hardest shot competition, with Bochenski's best effort coming in at 94.3 mph and Volchenkov's at 92.9. Norfolk's Rene Bourque won the event at 99.8. Bochenski was also in the pass-and-score event.