It was the final day of training camp in September of 2001 and I opened the door to the Senators coaches office. Darius Miller Jersey . 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. JJ Redick Pelicans Jersey . The Opening Day starter played 53 games this season hitting .192 with nine home runs and 25 RBI. Red Sox manager John Farrell has decided to start Jose Iglesias at third base as of late instead of Middlebrooks. Jaxson Hayes Pelicans Jersey . Philippe Desrosiers stopped 42 shots through overtime and three more in the shootout to pick up his third shutout of the season for Rimouski (31-15-7). Zachary Fucale made 28 saves for Halifax (34-17-3) in the loss. https://www.pelicanslockerroom.com/Jordan-Crawford-City-Edition-Jersey/ .35 million. The right-hander had agreed last February to a deal that pays him $3.775 million this year and allows him to earn an additional $225,000 in bonuses based on games finished.Chris Coleman has said he was honoured to sign a new two-year deal that will see him stay as Wales manager through to the 2018 World Cup. Coleman was appointed to the role in January 2012, replacing the late Gary Speed, and has been rewarded with a new deal after leading his country to their first major finals since the 1958 World Cup.The 45-year-olds previous contract was set to expire following the conclusion of this summers finals in France. He told Sky Sports News HQ: I am delighted that we have reached an agreement and I have the honour of leading my country in another campaign. Coleman shakes hands with Football Association Wales president David Griffiths (left) and FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford after Mondays announcement I look on it as an opportunity to improve on my first campaign [World Cup 2014 qualifying] which wasnt a successful one. We have got it all to look forward to but we have to build on what we have achieved so far. Its a big challenge but its one that we can conquer, thats for sure.The former Fulham and Real Sociedad boss, capped 32 times for his country, won six of his 10 European Qualifiers, including an impressive 1-0 home victory over Belgium, as Wales clinched second place and automatic qualification to this summers showpiece. Wales players carry Coleman aloft after securing qualification to Euro 2016 Wales begin their Euro 2016 Pool B campaign against Slovakia on June 11 in Bordeaux. They then face England in Lens on June 16 before tackling Russia in Toulouse four days later. Coleman said in March that there had to be changes behind the scenes in Welsh football for him to commit to another deal.He revealed agreement had been reached over those issues, with both himself and the FAW giving ground.It was very important that everything came to a conclusion before we embark on this journey in front of us, and we can concentrate on whats made us strong, he said. Wales unveil squad Chris Coleman has unveiled his provisional 29-man squad for Euro 2016 It wasnt a case of looking at what weve done. We need to keep on improving things and pushing each other before we even get to the players. Sometimes youve got to concede a little bit to get certain things you want.I think both parties showed real meaning in trying to get the deal done. The FAW showed that they really waanted me and I showed them that I wanted to stay. Kenrich Williams Jersey. .It went on a bit longer than we anticipated. But we wanted to do the right thing and Im happy to be sitting here knowing that Im going to get another campaign under my belt. Coleman celebrates after Wales qualified for Euro 2016 FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford said: We wanted to acknowledge the fantastic work Chris has done with his staff in ensuring qualification to the Euros in France this summer.I think it sends a fantastic message to everyone involved, the players, backroom staff, all the staff at the FAW.There is no one better qualified than Chris to lead Wales into its first World Cup in 60 years. Coleman hopes he can lead Wales to a World Cup before the end of his contract We wish him the best for Euro 2016 and he carries all our hopes and expectations for the World Cup campaign as well.Wales head to Portugal on Tuesday for a pre-Euro 2016 training camp without star man Gareth Bale, who is preparing for Real Madrids Champions League final with Atletico Madrid in Milan on Saturday. Joe Ledley is still hoping to make the Euro 2016 squad But midfielder Joe Ledley will join the squad as he attempts to recover in time for France after fracturing his leg in Crystal Palaces final Premier League game of the season. Also See: Wales unveil training squad Ledley doubtful for Euro 2016 Wales can be a football nation Euro 2016 squads ' ' '