Hide Article Text (OCR)
’Dogs deal SpezzaDONNA SPENCERCanadian PressTORONTOIn a trade that is perhaps the biggest junior hockey transaction since Eric Lindros was dealt from the Soo Greyhounds to the Oshawa Generals in 1990, the Mississauga [ceDogs have sent highly-rated forward Jason Spezza to the Windsor Spitfires.Spezza, who is projected to be one of the top two players taken in 2001 NHL Entry Draft next June, had asked Nov. 5 for a trade from the IceDogs, who were struggling in their third year of existence at 2-11-2 at the time.“I think I’m excited most about playing in a winning environment,” Spezza told the Toronto Sun. “Mississauga is still learning to win. Going to the playoffs and not finishing the season at the end of March will be good for me.”Windsor is 10-4-3-1 this season. Spezza is expected to be in the Spitfires’ lineup Thursday when they host the Kitchener Rangers.The Spitfires, ranked No. 9 in Canada, have been averaging about 3,000 spectators in the 4,000-seat Windsor Arena, but Spitfires’ general manager Mike Kelly thinks Thursday could be a sellout.“Most people would have probably placed us among the top eight teams in the OHL,” Kelly said. “Now (this trade) gets us into that contending category.”Spezza, 17, had seven goals and 40 points in 15 games with the IceDogs.The market for the six-foot-three, 195-pound centre was hot with almost every team in the Ontario Hockey League making a pitch. The Spitfires’ four-player package, plus draft picks and cash, proved the winner. The IceDogs, co-owned by Don Cherry, get to keep any NHL developmental money that goes to a junior team when a player is drafted “which could be considerable if Spezza plays in the NHL next year,” added Whiffen.
Newspaper Details
Medicine Hat News
Medicine Hat, Alberta, CA
Thu, Nov 16, 2000
Page 11
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 03 Apr 2020
Other Publications Near Medicine Hat, Alberta
Medicine Hat Morning Times
Medicine Hat Weekly News
Medicine Hat Times
Medicine Hat Daily News
Medicine Hat News
