The American Hockey League announced today that Binghamton Senators center Jason Spezza has been named the CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending January 23, 2005. In three games, Spezza scored five goals and added four assists for nine points as the Senators moved atop the East Division standings.
Spezza continued his torrid scoring pace by recording a goal and two assists in the second period of the Senators’ 4-1 win over league-leading Manchester on Friday. The next night, at the Corel Centre in Ottawa, he scored two goals in a 4-3 win over St. John’s. And Sunday, Spezza had two goals and two assists to lead Binghamton past Hershey, 5-3. He has tallied 20 points (8g, 12a) during his current eight-game scoring streak, and has totaled 31 points (13g, 18a) in his last 14 contests.
In recognition of his achievement, Spezza will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Senators home game.
A native of Mississauga, Ont., the 21-year-old Spezza leads the American Hockey League in assists (47) and points (69) in 45 games for Binghamton this season, and now has 44 goals and 79 assists for 123 points in 88 career AHL contests. Spezza, the second overall pick in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft and an AHL All-Star and an AHL All-Rookie Team selection in 2003, picked up 22 goals and 33 assists in 78 NHL contests with Ottawa last season.
Other nominees for CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week include Bridgeport right wing Jim Campbell, Chicago defenseman Paul Flache, Cincinnati left wing Michael Holmqvist, Cleveland defenseman Doug Murray, Edmonton forward Martin St. Pierre, Grand Rapids center Eric Himelfarb, Hamilton forward Gavin Morgan, Hartford goaltender Steve Valiquette, Houston center Mikko Koivu, Lowell center Eric Staal, Manchester goaltender Mathieu Garon, Portland right wing Owen Fussey, Rochester center Paul Gaustad, San Antonio defenseman Joel Kwiatkowski, Springfield goaltender Jamie Storr, St. John’s center Kyle Wellwood, Syracuse center Mark Hartigan and Utah left wing Aaron Gavey.
