Jared Spaz IIHIRN

[Spaz 297]

 

 

Welcome back to the IIHIRN and I am Nathan Walker thanks for joining me today as I have a special segment. So a couple of weeks ago I went to Helsinki and interviewed GM Jubo, I will be heading back, but instead of taking a look at Helsinki I will be looking at a specific player. Now I get I could look at superstars like Erik Summers or even Mike Johnson, but I'm not, at least this time, this time I'm going to look at second year Jared Spaz. I will be doing a quick history recap and a small interview with him today and depending on the support I may continue this series. 

 

Let's get started, Jared Spaz is an Italian right winger who played played in the ohl with the the Erie Otters and eventually being traded to the Mississauga Steaheads where he would eventually end his OHL career with a crucial acl tear that almost ended his hockey career, but he wouldn't give up and after being rejected by the NHL draft and OHL would eventually join the VHLM. Jared Spaz was the captain of the Otters at age 16 and would lead them to the Calder win in his second season. He would eventually be traded to the Stealheads mid season of his third year before suffering his ACL tear, doctors not knowing if he would be able to play again. After being rejected by the NHL draft Spaz wouldn't know what to do or where to go as hockey was his only career, as he stated in an interview " Personally I don't know where I'm going to end up, but I'll be damned if I'm going to let this injury end my passion of playing hockey, I'm healthy right now but I can understand teams not wanting to take a risk on me, but at the same time I will be the best risk they'll never take on me". Later that week he would get an offer from the Mississauga Hounds an opportunity that would change his life forever. 

 

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"I am glad to accept the offer from the Mississauga Hounds. It's a fresh start and I realize that I am going to have to prove myself over again, but it's something I am used to by now competing for that number one draft pick in the NHL."  Spaz stated he would eventually play 24 games with the Hounds before being traded to the Yukon Rush only recording 24 points. After being swept in the playoffs by the eventual champions Saskatoon Wild this is what Spaz had to say "A disappointing end to the season we didn't capitalize on any chances given to us. We were just out played all year. I didn't play to the potential I wanted too. I have no idea where I'm going to be drafted too but I plan on bouncing back next season". 

 

Following that off season Spaz would be drafted 1rst round 8th pick by both the Philadelphia Reapers in the VHLM and the Helsinki Titans, where Spaz would end up having a breakout year in his final VHLM season with 77 points before joining his VHL team last season where he would end up struggle to settle in, and this is what he had to say "I'm disappointed in how I played it is unacceptable and I will need to hit the ice during the offseason to prepare for next season."

 

After we come back I will be sitting with Spaz myself to reflect on this season and how he's doing so far. 

 

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{Nathan}: Welcome back and I am here with Spaz thank you for joining me. 

 

{Jared}: Thanks for having me Nathan, it's honestly great to be here.

 

{Nathan}: I'm glad, so I would like to get started, your rookie season, what was the most difficult to adapt to and what was the easiest. 

 

{Jared}: Oh man where do I start there definitely is a ton I could go on about that is difficult to adapt too, but I'm going to have to go with the speed of the game it's so much more intense than playing in the vhlm, you're playing against players that have been around for seasons but you're also playing against guys who want to make their mark. Don't get me wrong you still get guys that stick around, and some argue it's more competitive trying to fight for that top draft pick.

You also asked what is the easiest to adapt to, I would honestly have to say from my experience fitting in with the team my teammates, and even Jubo have been so helpful and they really know how to make you feel like you're family. 

 

{Nathan}: Good, so last season you had a rough start you would start the season off with 2 points, and couldn't seem to get that boost started till near the end of the season only recording 16 points, but it seems like you've shaken that off by starting the season off better as we're past the halfway mark and you've managed 19 points including 4 game winners. What do you think helped you with a better season?

 

{Jared}: Well I think I would have to say I realized I needed to practice more I think. I thought I could just enter this league and put up big numbers and I was stopped in my tracks quickly. I also believe the third line chemistry has been great all year. I feel comfortable playing alongside them.

 

{Nathan} I would love to keep this up but I don't have much time, and I'm sure you don't either, so I have one more question. You signed an extension with Helsinki, how long do you plan on playing with them any other team you would like to give a try?

 

{Jared}: I plan on retiring here, I mean believe we have a great team and I see us winning a championship soon if not this season. I definitely wouldn't count us out, they had us missing the playoffs this season and at the moment we are fighting for a top spot in the standings, and to me the standings are important for making the playoffs and playoff positioning, but when it comes to that time of year it's a whole different story.

 

{Nathan}: Thank you very much for joining me again. Hopefully I can have you back on here soon when I have more time. 

 

{Jared}: Thank you for having me, I really appreciate it and would love to come back. 

 

Thank you for joining this segment, that was Jared Spaz and a highlight on his season. This is the IIHIRN and I am Nathan Walker, I hope you all have a good night.

 

Word count: 1,128

 

[Spaz 297]

Claim 2/2

Edited June 8, 2020 by Spaz

[Andre LeBastard 112]

This was another good read, I have been impressed with the quality in many of the media posts of late and this piece was no exception.

Aside from too many ad breaks, I quite enjoyed it.

 

It was well written and I do like to see interview style articles now and again, as I said above this was a good read and based on this article I would read more.

 

8.0/10