It was the final day of training camp in September of 2001 and I opened the door to the Senators coaches office. There, I saw a teenaged boy with tears in his eyes, being consoled by strength and conditioning coach Randy Lee. Jason Spezza had just been delivered the devastating news that he would be returned to junior hockey – the final victim of the roster cuts made by general manager Marshall Johnston and head coach Jacques Martin. At the time I was a fairly inexperienced member of the Senators PR department, but I knew that Spezza was not ready to deal with the media. He flatly told me he didnt want to answer any questions that morning. However, it was just past 10am and reporters were going to start trickling into the building at any moment. We made the decision to get Jason out of the rink before any cameras showed up and caught footage of him looking so despondent. I went outside to the hallway and found that an Ottawa Citizen reporter had been the first to show up. But there was nobody else around, so I told him he needed to have his photo taken for his 2001-02 season pass, and I walked with him down to the security area. And once I did that, Lee helped escort Spezza out of the rink going the opposite way – so that nobody from the media could see him. I dont think you could really blame him in that situation. He was 18 years old and just had the rug pulled out from underneath him. He exceled at every level when it came to hockey, so being returned to the OHL was something he never fathomed. A few hours later, Jacques Martin would make his infamous statement that Jason was "a boy playing a mans game" – and maybe it was true on that day. But it seemed like that label stuck to Spezza for his entire tenure in Ottawa, like a stubborn piece of gum at the bottom of his shoe. He was never quite good enough for some people in this market. Even after his heroics as a 19-year-old in the playoffs in 2003 – when he scored a goal and added an assist in a must-win Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final against the New Jersey Devils – there were lingering doubts about his ability as a player. The very next year, Jacques Martin made him a healthy scratch for several playoff games against the Toronto Maple Leafs. A trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2007 didnt cement his status in this town, even though Spezza tied for the league lead in playoff scoring. Just a couple of years later, he was booed on home ice during a Game 4 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2010 playoffs. That was almost enough to drive him out of town, with general manager Bryan Murray hinting that Spezza told him he was amenable to a trade if one could be executed. And yet three years later he was still here, now wearing the captains "C" on his jersey - which only seemed to make the target on his back even bigger. It was a roller coaster with Spezza from the onset and it seemed the ride never stopped. Every game seemed to be a referendum on whether or not you could win with him. After a while, it gets tiresome. Tiresome for the player. Tiresome for the fans. And tiresome for the organization. And yes - even tiresome for people like me who work in sports talk radio. There are days when I would just have to say "Jason Spezza" on the air and our phone lines would light up. Finally, Spezza himself has had enough. Bryan Murray admitted to the reporters on Wednesday that Spezza has asked to get off this ride. And Im not sure I can really blame him. Hes spent 11 seasons here and has more than paid his dues. In the next few days, you will likely read a ton of internet comments suggesting that Spezza never really embraced Ottawa. And that if he cant stand the pressure of playing Ottawa, he shouldnt let the door hit him on the way out. From my perspective, though, Spezza handled the pressure in this market as well as he could have. He was made the scapegoat on many nights when the team lost. And when he was the star in a Senators victory, too often the sentiment was, "why cant he do that every night?" I believe that day as an 18-year-old was the only time that Jason Spezza ever knowingly ducked the media. He stood in the line of fire and took his lumps on a daily basis for more than a decade. To suggest that he doesnt have the mental toughness to handle a Canadian market is completely erroneous. The guy just spent 11 years in this market, was a point-a-game producer and wanted to be named the captain of this team 10 months ago. If thats shying away from the limelight, I think youre sadly mistaken. We can debate whether the media or the fans pushed another star out of town in Ottawa - although this one feels a little different than the forced departures for guys like Dany Heatley and Alexei Yashin. Daniel Alfredssons exit last summer was a punch in the stomach that nobody saw coming. Spezzas imminent departure, on the other hand, is more like a gradual erosion; something that was inevitable. And when he finally does leave Ottawa, I can guarantee you Jason Spezza wont be shedding any tears. Yeezy Boost 750 For Sale. -- EJ Manuel followed the worst game of his career with the best. Mens/Womens Yeezy Boost 350 Oxford Tan Adidas NZ Shoes.com) - Another trip to Oakland . http://www.yeezyboost350nz.com/adidas-yeezy-new-zealand/adidas-ultra-boost-yeezy.html. - The Seattle Mariners quickly answered those critics who thought Robinson Cano wouldnt have enough support in the lineup to make a difference. Adidas Womens Mint Green Yeezy Boost 350 NZ Shoes. The Ottawa Senators recalled the 20-year-old from Binghamton of the American Hockey League Tuesday and he knows he has a lot to prove if he intends on staying in Ottawa. Adidas Nice Kicks Nmd For Sale. -- A horse with a humble pedigree.We love hockey. We love watching hockey. Over the years Ive been fortunate enough to watch games of varying levels, with different age groups in different places. And whats always struck me is the excitement surrounding these games. So Ive compiled a bucket list of places - and the games and events that take place there - where one can watch hockey in a manner that is unique. 1. Spengler Cup/Davos, Switzerland - Spectacular setting in the Swiss Alps where the confluence of hockey, holiday revelry and skiing come together to create a magnificent tourney. Hosted by HC Davos, it brings club teams from around Europe and a Canadian National Team together to compete in a highly competitive event that culminates with the championship game on New Years Eve. 2. The Beanpot/Boston, Mass. - Dont call it the unofficial championship for the Major College hockey teams of Boston, because the school that wins gets official bragging rights as the best in Boston. Harvard University, Boston University, Northeastern University and Boston College are separated by approximately five miles from one to another. The atmosphere at the games is one of the best in all of hockey. 3. Minnesota State High School Tourney/St. Paul, MN - The State of Minnesota is split into eight conferences for purposes of high school hockey. Teams winning their conference come to St. Paul to participate in the State Championship. It consists of two tiers of eight teams each and the list of prominent Minnesota hockey players to participate includes Neal Broten, Mike Ramsay and Jamie Langenbrunner. Herb Brooks won the championship as a player in 1955 and ironically began his post Olympic coaching career with HC Davos. The school pride and spirit is one of the best in all of high school sports in the USA. 4. Quebec Pee Wee Tourney/Quebec City, PQ - Watching future NHL stars at the ages of 11 and 12 may not be so evident but it is a glimpse into the future. Teams and players from all over the world come to participate. Hall-of-Famers Wayne Gretzky, Guy Lafleur, Mario Lemieux, Ron Francis, Marcel Dionne and Mike Modano have all played there and it takes place during the annual Carnaval de Quebec. A true celebration of all things winter with snow sculptures, Bonhomme and a living replica of the snowmen that enchanted the children of Québec City for generations. 5. Yost Ice Arena/Ann Arbor, MI - The atmosphere in Yost (which was built in 1923 and has been home to the Michigan Wolverines hockey team since 1973), is one of the most vibrant in all of college hockey. The student section is creative and their chants are legendary for poking fun at opponents, especially the goalies whoo - after allowing a goal - hear what a sieve they are.ddddddddddddTheyre the extra attacker for their beloved Wolverines. 6. Boston Bruins-Montreal Canadiens - These two teams have faced off against one another more than any team in NHL history. It doesnt matter the year, their epic battles are legendary and have included some of the greatest players in NHL history in some of the greatest games and playoff series ever played. The 2016 NHL Winter Classic will be played in New England at Gillette Stadium which will add another chapter in the storied rivalry. 7. Hovet Arena/Stockholm, Sweden - Shared home to the Swedish teams Djurgarden and AIK, it is anything but cordial when these two historic rivals face off against one another. In recent years, there hasnt been much because of the teams being in different leagues due to relegation. But when they have played, the designated visitor for that particular game has no sense of home (because the home team has the tickets). Fans dressed in their teams colours, chanting and waving the team flag throughout the game creates a vibrant atmosphere. 8. OHL Cup/Toronto, Ontario - Ontario produces more NHL players than any other region in the world. The minor midget season in Ontario is capped by a week-long event that culminates with one team being crowned OHL Cup champions. And its another preview of things to come as far as NHL future stars go. Connor McDavid played as a 15-year-old in 2012 before being granted exceptional status, but his Toronto Marlies team fell in the final to a Mississauga Rebels team led by future St. Louis Blues first-rounder Robby Fabbri. It was the second time in three years the Rebels won (Sean Monahan of the Calgary Flames leading the way in 2010). 9. Flood-Marr Holiday Tournament/Boston, MA - The tournament - co-hosted by Milton Academy and Noble & Greenough School - just celebrated its 50th anniversary. Its named after long time coaches at both schools and brings together eight private schools from the New England area. The games are lined with parents and students and the concession stands offer homemade chowder and baked goods. On a cold, brisk day, its the perfect offering. 10. TV-pucken/Sweden - TV-pucken is a tournament for 15-year-olds created by one of Swedens great players, Sven (Tumba) Johansson. It is so named because originally all the games were on TV (Now only the championship is broadcast). Twenty-four district teams in Sweden play in four groups with the top two teams in each group moving to the championship round played in one of the districts on a rotating basis. Grads include Peter Forsberg, Markus Naslund and Gustav Nyquist. China Jerseys? 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