Jason Spezza

Who is Jason Spezza?

Jason Anthony Rocco Spezza is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who currently plays for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League.

After beginning his major junior career at the early age of 15 in the Ontario Hockey League, Spezza was selected second overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators. Playing in the American Hockey League 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.