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Though the Stars are not happy with their 2-1-2 start to the season, Spezza has only positive things to say about his experience in Dallas so far.

“It’s been great,” Spezza said. “You never know what to expect when you’re coming to a new place. I only knew one way, being in Ottawa, and it was great, but it has exceeded my expectations. The guys are great, the organization’s been first class, and you can tell Lindy (Ruff) has coached for a long time. He’s a really knowledgeable coach, and I’ve really enjoyed his practices and some of the teaching points he’s had.”

An added benefit is the way things have changed for Spezza, his wife, Jennifer, and their three daughters.

“That’s part of what’s exceeded expectations, just how friendly people are, how family friendly it is. You can bring your kids anywhere, really. It’s an extremely nice place to live … and it’s been nice away from the rink to just be able to be a dad and be around my kids.”

Though the Stars have sold out their first two home games and their younger stars have become recognizable in Dallas, many players can go about their business unnoticed — another big difference between Dallas and Canadian markets.

“After the games, you can get away from hockey,” explained Hemsky, who played for the Edmonton Oilers before being traded to Ottawa last season. “Canada’s different. You see it 24/7.”

The scrutiny the Stars face is also considerably lower, but Spezza was quick to point out that there is still pressure to perform.