Spezza, Ward, DiPietro grace AHL covers
Published on September 30, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL) News Release
SPRINGFIELD, MA ... Top NHL prospects and former first-round draft picks Jason Spezza of the Ottawa Senators, Jason Ward of the Montreal Canadiens and Rick DiPietro of the New York Islanders are featured on the covers of the 2003-04 American Hockey League Guide & Record Book and Schedule Book, both of which were published today.
The covers feature action photos of all three players in both their NHL uniforms and in American Hockey League All-Star uniforms. DiPietro participated in the AHL All-Star Classic in 2002; Ward and Spezza took part in 2003.
Spezza, 20, was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team in 2002-03 after helping the Binghamton Senators to a division championship and a trip to the Eastern Conference finals. The second overall pick in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, Spezza recorded 54 points in 43 games with the B-Sens, and added 21 points in 33 NHL matches with Ottawa.
Ward, 24, won the Les Cunningham Award as the American Hockey League's most valuable player in 2002-03, recording 72 points in 69 games for the Eastern Conference champion Hamilton Bulldogs. Ward, the 11th overall pick in 1999, also picked up five points in eight games with Montreal, and led the AHL with 12 goals and 21 points in the Calder Cup 2003 Playoffs.
DiPietro, 22, won 46 AHL games over the last two seasons with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, backstopping the club to the Calder Cup Finals in 2002. The first pick in the 2000 NHL draft appeared in 10 games with the Islanders in 2002-03, and made his Stanley Cup Playoff debut.
AHL publications are available for purchase by the general public. An order form can be found on theahl.com.
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