Toronto – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Belleville Bulls centre Jason Spezza is the OHL Player of the Week for the week ending Sunday February 10, 2002. Spezza recorded three goals and five assists for eight points in the Bulls’ lone game last week, an 8-2 win over the visiting London Knights on February 9.
Spezza’s eight point game equaled a team record established by Dan Quinn in 1983 and equaled by Jason Lafreniere in 1985, co-incidentally also against the Knights, and Brad Gratton in 1987.
In the 10 games since joining the Bulls in January, Spezza, the second overall pick of the Ottawa Senators in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, has scored 11 goals and 20 assists for 31 points. He has been named OHL Player of the Week three times this season, including January 29 when he scored 10 points in three games for the Bulls.
Spezza, an 18-year-old native of Etobicoke, improved his season totals to 30 goals and 46 assists for 76 points in 37 games. He is currently tied for seventh among OHL scorers this season.
Jason Spezza
Born: Etobicoke, ON, Birthdate: June 13, 1983
Position: Centre Shoots: Right
Height: 6.03 Weight: 200 lbs.
OHL – Mississauga’s 1st round choice, 1st overall, in 1999.
NHL – Ottawa’s 1st round choice, 2nd overall, in 2001.
Season Club GP G A PTS PIM
1998-99 Brampton 67 22 49 71 18
1999-00 Mississauga 52 24 37 61 33
2000-01 Mississauga 15 7 23 30 11
Windsor 41 36 50 86 32
2001-02 Windsor 27 19 26 45 16
Belleville 10 11 20 31 16
OHL Totals 212 119 205 324 126
HUSKY WHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Calgary – The Husky Western Hockey League Player of the Week is forward Joffrey Lupul of the Medicine Hat Tigers. Lupul earned player of the week honours by recording three goals and ten points in three games, including a power-play goal.
On Tuesday, February 5th, Lupul recorded a goal and three assists in a 6-3 victory against the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes. On Friday, February 8th, Lupul recorded a goal in a 5-2 loss to the Warriors in Moose Jaw.
On Sunday, February 10th, Lupul recorded a goal and four assists in a 7-4 win against the Hurricanes in Lethbridge.
Lupul, an 18-year-old from Edmonton, Alberta is eligible for the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
Honourable mention goes to Robert McVicar of the Brandon Wheat Kings and Ben Ondrus of the Swift Current Broncos.
