Jared Spurgeon
{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player (born 1989)}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=August 2013}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player
| name = Jared Spurgeon
| image = {{CSS image crop |Image=Jared Spurgeon at Minnesota Wild open practice at Tria Rink in St Paul, MN.jpg |bSize=500 |cWidth=230|cHeight=300 |oTop=0 |oLeft=190 |Location=center}}
| image_size = 230px
| caption = Spurgeon with the Minnesota Wild in 2019
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|11|29}}
| birth_place = Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 9
| weight_lb = 167
| position = Defence
| shoots = Right
| league = NHL
| team = Minnesota Wild
| former_teams = SCL Tigers
| draft = 156th overall
| draft_year = 2008
| draft_team = New York Islanders
| career_start = 2010
}}
Jared Spurgeon (born November 29, 1989) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and captain of the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). Spurgeon was selected 156th overall by the New York Islanders in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft but joined the Wild after going unsigned by the Islanders.
Prior to the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Spurgeon played five seasons of major junior hockey with the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He won both a WHL Championship and the 2008 CHL Memorial Cup with the Chiefs. Following the 2009–10 OHL season, Spurgeon joined the Minnesota Wild's American Hockey League affiliate, the Houston Aeros. He impressed the coaching staff through his first 23 games and earned his first NHL recall the day before his 21st birthday. Spurgeon made his NHL debut the following day and remained with the Wild for the remainder of the season.
Early life
Spurgeon was born on November 29, 1989, in Edmonton, Alberta{{cite web |title=Jared Spurgeon |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/11611/jared-spurgeon |publisher=Elite Prospects |access-date=February 25, 2024}} to Barry and Debbie Spurgeon.{{cite news |last1=Matheson |first1=Jim |title=Edmonton product Jared Spurgeon among best small defenceman in NHL |url=https://edmontonsun.com/sports/hockey/edmonton-product-jared-spurgeon-among-best-small-defenceman-in-nhl |access-date=March 19, 2024 |publisher=Edmonton Sun |date=March 10, 2018}} He grew up alongside his older brother Tyler, who also played ice hockey, and older sister Breanne.{{cite web |last1=Russo |first1=Michael |title=The underdog becomes the captain: Jared Spurgeon’s journey to the Wild ‘C’ |url=https://theathletic.com/2320476/2021/01/13/jared-spurgeon-wild-captain-journey/ |publisher=The Athletic |access-date=March 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20221101132337/https://theathletic.com/2320476/2021/01/13/jared-spurgeon-wild-captain-journey/ |archive-date=November 1, 2022 |date=January 13, 2021}} Spurgeon was a fan of the Edmonton Oilers, specifically Doug Weight, growing up as his grandfather had a pair of season tickets and alternated between various Spurgeon family members.{{cite web |last1=Wharnsby |first1=Tim |title=Spurgeon Standing Tall On Wild's Blueline|url=https://www.nhlpa.com/news/1-16360/spurgeon-standing-tall-on-wilds-blueline |publisher=NHLPA |access-date=March 19, 2024 |date=January 9, 2019}}
Playing career
Growing up in Alberta, Spurgeon played minor hockey alongside Tyler Ennis, and their fathers served as coaches on their teams.{{cite web |last1=Kennedy |first1=Kevin |title=Tyler Ennis |url=https://thehockeynews.com/news/tyler-ennis |publisher=The Hockey News |access-date=February 25, 2024 |date=October 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524101000/https://thehockeynews.com/news/tyler-ennis|archive-date=May 24, 2022}} Although he was originally a forward, Spurgeon was changed to defence at the age of 13 while in peewee.{{cite web |title=Wild Defenceman Spurgeon 10 Seasons Into Size-Deying Career |url=https://www.nhlpa.com/news/2-18756/wild-defenceman-spurgeon-10-seasons-into-size-defying-career |publisher=NHLPA |access-date=February 25, 2024 |date=December 11, 2019}} Due to their short stature, Ennis and Spurgeon were both cut from their Bantam AAA team, so they then played together on the Knights of Columbus Squires U15 AAA team in the Alberta Elite Hockey League. In the 2004–05 season, Spurgeon recorded 35 points in 37 games and played in the 2005 Alberta Cup.{{cite web |last1=Kierszenblat |first1=Adam |title=WHL Draft Day Steals: Jared Spurgeon |url=https://thehockeynews.com/whl/players/whl-draft-day-steals-jared-spurgeon |publisher=The Hockey News |access-date=February 25, 2024 |date=November 28, 2023}}
=Western Hockey League (2005–2010)=
As a result of his strong 2004–05 season, Spurgeon was drafted in the tenth round of the Western Hockey League draft by the Spokane Chiefs. He was also drafted by the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in the United States Hockey League 2005 Futures Draft.{{cite news |title=RoughRiders select 6 players in USHL futures draft |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-roughriders-select-6-players/142110960/ |access-date=February 25, 2024 |publisher=The Gazette |date=September 7, 2005 |page=19|via=newspapers.com}} Spurgeon made the jump to the WHL during the 2005-06 season, where he recorded three goals and nine assists for 12 points in his rookie season. He suffered a back injury in the 2006 off-season and missed the first month of the 2006–07 season to recover.{{cite news |title=Chiefs miss quartet |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-chiefs-miss-quartet/142110546/ |access-date=February 25, 2024 |publisher=The Spokesman-Review |date=November 3, 2006|via=newspapers.com}}
During the 2007–08 season, Spurgeon earned a larger role on the team as a member of their top power-play unit. His play earned him praise from head coach Bill Peters, who said: "He has real good on-ice vision and a superior hockey sense in my opinion...He competes very hard, he’s a pit bull out there and he’s an undersized guy but it doesn’t hold him back one bit."{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Jess |title=Spurgeon quarterbacks Chiefs’ win |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2008/feb/20/spurgeon-quarterbacks-chiefs-win/ |access-date=March 19, 2024 |publisher=The Spokesman-Review |date=February 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240226012355/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2008/feb/20/spurgeon-quarterbacks-chiefs-win/ |archive-date=February 26, 2024}} Spurgeon finished the regular season with a career-high 43 points and was named the Chiefs' Defenseman of the Year and Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year.{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Jess |title=Spurgeon sibling rivalry paid off |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2008/may/22/spurgeon-sibling-rivalry-paid-off/ |access-date=March 19, 2024 |publisher=The Spokesman-Review |date=May 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240226011855/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2008/may/22/spurgeon-sibling-rivalry-paid-off/ |archive-date=February 26, 2024}} After Spurgeon and the Chiefs won the 2008 Memorial Cup, he was drafted 156th overall by the New York Islanders in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Jess |title=Long and short of it: 3 Chiefs picked |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2008/jun/22/long-and-short-of-it-3-chiefs-picked/ |access-date=March 19, 2024 |publisher=The Spokesman-Review |date=June 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240319220823/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2008/jun/22/long-and-short-of-it-3-chiefs-picked/ |archive-date=March 19, 2024}} As he had not been contacted by any hockey scouts prior to the draft, Spurgeon had been prepared to enroll in college as a backup plan.{{cite news |last1=McLellan |first1=Sarah |title=Career of Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon has proved doubters wrong |url=https://www.startribune.com/career-of-wild-defenseman-jared-spurgeon-has-proved-doubters-wrong/507331822/ |access-date=March 19, 2024 |publisher=Minnesota Star Tribune |date=March 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190319133644/https://www.startribune.com/career-of-wild-defenseman-jared-spurgeon-has-proved-doubters-wrong/507331822/ |archive-date=March 19, 2019}}
As one of the Chiefs' top defensemen in the 2008–09 season, Spurgeon set and matched two franchise records{{cite web |title=Alumni Spotlight: Team Spurgeon |url=https://chl.ca/whl-chiefs/alumni-spotlight-team-spurgeon/ |publisher=Canadian Hockey League |access-date=March 19, 2024 |date=August 26, 2022}} en route to a career-high 35 assists and 45 points. Spurgeon and the Chiefs started the season with a 16–9–0–3 record as the defenceman accumulated one goal and nine assists.{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Jess |title=Chiefs waste chances |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2008/nov/30/chiefs-waste-chances/ |access-date=March 19, 2024 |publisher=The Spokesman-Review |date=November 30, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240319232903/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2008/nov/30/chiefs-waste-chances/ |archive-date=March 19, 2024}} As a result of his performance, Spurgeon was one of three Chiefs players selected to participate in the 2008 ADT Canada–Russia Challenge.{{cite web |title=Three Chiefs to Play for Team WHL |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/three-chiefs-to-play-for-team-whl/n-3734372 |publisher=Our Sports Central |access-date=March 19, 2024 |date=October 30, 2008}} In December 2008, Spurgeon attended Team Canada’s camp to qualify for their 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships roster.{{cite web |title=Tokarski And Spurgeon Leave For Camp |url=https://chl.ca/whl-chiefs/tokarski-and-spurgeon-leave-for-camp/ |publisher=Canadian Hockey League |access-date=March 19, 2024 |date=December 10, 2008}} Spurgeon finished the regular season with 10 goals and a career-high 35 assists for 45 points. His 10 goals ranked 25th amongst most goals scored in a single season by a Chiefs defenceman. He also allowed a franchise-low 145 goals against as a defenceman during the season, down from his previous record of 160. Spurgeon finished his fourth season with the Chiefs as their second consecutive Defenseman of the Year and earned the Player’s Player award for the first time.{{cite web |title=Chiefs Hand Out Year End Awards|url=https://chl.ca/whl-chiefs/chiefs-hand-out-year-end-awards/ |publisher=Canadian Hockey League |access-date=March 19, 2024 |date=March 16, 2009}}
As Spurgeon underwent shoulder surgery during the 2009 offseason, he did not participate in any games at the Chiefs camp or in the preseason.{{cite web |title=Off-Season Injury Updates |url=https://chl.ca/whl-chiefs/off-season-injury-updates/ |publisher=Canadian Hockey League |access-date=March 19, 2024 |date=August 24, 2009}} Despite missing the first 18 games of the season, Spurgeon finished the regular season with a career-high 43 assists and 51 points. When he made his season debut in November, Spurgeon recorded three assists.{{cite news |last1=Trimmer |first1=Dave |title=Chiefs’ Spurgeon succeeds with on-ice savvy |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/mar/18/brains-before-brawn/ |access-date=March 19, 2024 |publisher=The Spokesman-Review |date=March 18, 2010}} Spurgeon maintained a seven game point streak through February, during which he recorded three goals and nine assists.{{cite web |title=The Playoff Report |url=https://chl.ca/whl-chiefs/the-playoff-report/ |publisher=Canadian Hockey League |access-date=March 19, 2024 |date=March 16, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240320000445/https://chl.ca/whl-chiefs/the-playoff-report/|archive-date=March 20, 2024}} During this point streak, Spurgeon was recognized by Chiefs’ as one of their Top 25 Chiefs in 25 Years.{{cite web |title=Spokane announces "Top 25 Chiefs in 25 Years" |url=https://www.krem.com/article/sports/hockey/spokane-announces-top-25-chiefs-in-25-years/293-171364991 |publisher=KTTO |access-date=March 19, 2024 |date=February 26, 2010}} Over his final 10 games of the season, Spurgeon had one goal and seven assists for a total of 170 points over his five seasons with the Chiefs, the fourth most for a Spokane defenseman. His 51 points were the 23rd most points by a Spokane defenseman in a single season and his 43 assists were the 21st by a team defensemen in a single season. Spurgeon was also named a finalist for the WHL's Brad Hornung Trophy as the league's Most Sportsmanlike Player.{{cite web |title=Spurgeon Runner-Up For League's Most Sportsmanlike|url=https://chl.ca/whl-chiefs/spurgeon-runner-up-for-league-s-most-sportsmanlike/ |publisher=Canadian Hockey League |access-date=March 19, 2024 |date=April 28, 2010}}
=Professional (2010–present)=
After playing five seasons with the Spokane Chiefs, the Minnesota Wild invited the unsigned defenceman to attend their 2010–11 training camp.{{cite web |title=Spurgeon Signs With Minnesota|url=https://chl.ca/whl-chiefs/spurgeon-signs-with-minnesota/ |publisher=Canadian Hockey League |access-date=March 19, 2024 |date=September 23, 2010}} He scored a goal and an assist while representing the Wild at the 2010 Traverse City Rookie Tournament before signing a three-year, entry-level contract on September 23, 2010.{{cite web |last1=Andersen |first1=Glen |title=Wild Signs Three Prospects |url=http://wild.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=538400 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610192039/http://wild.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=538400 |archive-date=June 10, 2012 |date=September 23, 2010}} He was subsequently assigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Houston Aeros, to start the 2010–11 season.{{cite web |title=Minnesota Wild Transactions 2010 |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/nhl/team/transactions/_/name/min/season/2010 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=March 19, 2024}} Spurgeon immediately impressed the Aeros coaching staff upon joining the team. Prior to his first NHL callup, he had maintained an eight-game point streak.{{cite news |last1=Russo |first1=Michael |title=The Wild's Jared Spurgeon: Big in stature if not in size |url=https://www.startribune.com/the-wild-s-jared-spurgeon-big-in-stature-if-not-in-size/280135312/ |access-date=March 19, 2024 |publisher=Minnesota Star Tribune |date=October 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031042350/https://www.startribune.com/the-wild-s-jared-spurgeon-big-in-stature-if-not-in-size/280135312/|archive-date=October 31, 2015}} Due to his small stature, sportswriter Michael Russo later confessed that he had refrained from reporting on Spurgeon's call-up because he initially dismissed it as a joke.{{cite web |last1=Russo |first1=Michael |title=Now a star for the Wild, Jared Spurgeon has had to prove himself at every turn |url=https://theathletic.com/271905/2018/03/13/jared-spurgeon-wild-has-had-to-prove-himself-bruce-boudreau/ |publisher=The Athletic |access-date=March 19, 2024 |date=March 13, 2018}} As the callup was unexpected, the Wild's assistant equipment manager only had the jersey number 46 available in his size. Wearing number 46 for the Wild, Spurgeon played 14:42 minutes and registered one shot on goal in a 3–0 shutout loss to the Calgary Flames on November 29.{{cite web |title=Miikka Kiprusoff stops 32 shots, Jarome Iginla scores in Flames' win |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=301129003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119163403/https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=301129003 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |website=ESPN |access-date=January 19, 2024 |date=November 30, 2010}}{{cite web |title=Calgary Flames - Minnesota Wild November 29, 2010 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/cgy-vs-min/2010/11/29/2010020351/boxscore |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 19, 2024}} Spurgeon then spent the majority of the regular season at the NHL level.{{cite web |title=Wild Joe Radio's "All-Time Roster" |url=https://www.iowawild.com/news/detail/wild-joe-radios-all-time-roster |publisher=Iowa Wild |access-date=March 30, 2024 |date=October 21, 2020}} On January 25, 2011, Spurgeon recorded his first career NHL point, an assist, in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks.{{cite news |title=NHL Roundup Wild 4, Blackhawks 2 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bismarck-tribune-nhl-roundup-wild-4/144462514/ |access-date=March 30, 2024 |publisher=The Bismarck Tribune |date=January 26, 2011|via=newspapers.com}} He later scored his first career NHL goal on February 22, 2011, in his 31st career NHL game, against Nikolai Khabibulin of the Edmonton Oilers.{{cite web |last1=Brothers |first1=Bruce |title=Jared Spurgeon's first goal hits home in Wild win over Edmonton Oilers |url=https://www.twincities.com/2011/02/22/jared-spurgeons-first-goal-hits-home-in-wild-win-over-edmonton-oilers/ |website=Twin Cities |access-date=January 19, 2024 |date=February 22, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307083613/https://www.twincities.com/2011/02/22/jared-spurgeons-first-goal-hits-home-in-wild-win-over-edmonton-oilers/|archive-date=March 7, 2016}} Spurgeon finished the season as one of only three defencemen in NHL history who recorded only one penalty in at least 50 games.{{cite news |title=No spurring Jared |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal-no-spurring-jared/144463163/ |access-date=March 30, 2024 |publisher=Edmonton Journal |date=April 17, 2011|via=newspapers.com}} He also finished with eight assists, marking the 27th most assists recorded by a Wild rookie in franchise history.{{cite web |title=Minnesota Wild Skater Records Most Assists, Rookie, Season Print |url=https://records.nhl.com/min/records/skater-records/scoring-by-a-rookie/most-assists-rookie-one-season |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 30, 2024}} As the Wild failed to qualify for the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs, Spurgeon was re-assigned to the Aeros for the Calder Cup playoffs. He helped the Aeros advance to the Calder Cup Finals before suffering an injury in Game 5.{{cite news |title=B-Sens |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-and-sun-bulletin-b-sens/144463504/ |access-date=March 30, 2024 |publisher=Press and Sun-Bulletin |date=June 7, 2011|via=newspapers.com}} At the time of the injury, he had accumulated 11 points and a +5 rating in 23 games.
As a second-year player, Spurgeon was given more on-ice responsibility by the Wild through the 2011–12 season.{{cite news |title=Spurgeon a steal for Wild |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal-spurgeon-a-steal-for-wi/144463998/ |access-date=March 30, 2024 |publisher=Edmonton Journal |date=December 23, 2011|via=newspapers.com}} Spurgeon participated in the Wild's 2011 training camp where he was paired with Marek Zidlicky on the second power-play unit.{{cite web |last1=Allen |first1=Sean |title=Fantasy hockey training camp report |url=https://www.espn.com.sg/fantasy/hockey/fhl/story?page=nhldk2k11_wccamp |publisher=ESPN |access-date=March 31, 2024 |date=September 29, 2011}} Although he missed one exhibition games due to bruised ribs,{{cite news |last1=Russo |first1=Mike |title=Cullen, Spurgeon out; Wellman, Falk in vs. Blues |url=https://www.startribune.com/cullen-spurgeon-out-wellman-falk-in-vs-blues/130641068/ |access-date=March 30, 2024 |publisher=Minnesota Star Tribune |date=September 27, 2011}} Spurgeon recovered by the Wild's opening night game.{{cite web |title=NHL Opening Night Rosters: 2011-12 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/nhl-opening-night-rosters-2011-12-1.995162 |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=March 31, 2024 |date=October 6, 2011}} His defensive efforts helped the Wild start the 2011–12 season with a 7–3–3 record through the first 13 games.{{cite news |last1=Russo |first1=Mike |title=Faith in youth looking less like a gamble |url=https://www.startribune.com/faith-in-youth-looking-less-like-a-gamble/133338818/?refresh=true |access-date=March 31, 2024 |publisher=Minnesota Star Tribune |date=November 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240331002400/https://www.startribune.com/faith-in-youth-looking-less-like-a-gamble/133338818/?refresh=true |archive-date=March 31, 2024}} Spurgeon remained healthy through the first half of the Wild's season, playing in all 36 games and leading the team in ice time and average ice time per game.{{cite news |last1=Russo |first1=Mike |title=5-9 dynamo Jared Spurgeon is Wild's iron man |url=https://www.startribune.com/5-9-dynamo-jared-spurgeon-is-wild-s-iron-man/136119448/ |access-date=March 31, 2024 |publisher=Minnesota Star Tribune |date=December 23, 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240331012615/https://www.startribune.com/5-9-dynamo-jared-spurgeon-is-wild-s-iron-man/136119448/ |archive-date=March 31, 2024}} On December 26, 2011, Spurgeon suffered a lower-body injury as a result of a check by Colorado Avalanche forward Cody McLeod.{{cite news |last1=Goessling |first1=Ben |title=Wild rule out Jared Spurgeon for Nashville game |url=https://www.twincities.com/2011/12/27/wild-rule-out-jared-spurgeon-for-nashville-game/ |access-date=March 24, 2024 |publisher=Twin Cities Pioneer Press |date=December 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240324011216/https://www.twincities.com/2011/12/27/wild-rule-out-jared-spurgeon-for-nashville-game/ |archive-date=March 24, 2024}}{{cite news |title=Spurgeon hurting |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal-spurgeon-hurting/144463909/ |access-date=March 30, 2024 |publisher=Edmonton Journal |date=January 30, 2011|via=newspapers.com}} He missed two games to recover before returning to the Wild's lineup on December 31 for their game against the Phoenix Coyotes. Spurgeon scored an accidental own goal during the game as the Wild fell 4–2.{{cite web |title=Radim Vrbata buries Wild with 2 in 3rd as Coyotes end 4-game slide |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/400047680 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331014659/https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/400047680 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 31, 2024 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=March 30, 2024 |date=December 31, 2011}} Spurgeon's sophomore season concluded on March 22 after suffering a concussion during a game against the Calgary Flames.{{cite news |title=Yeo cries foul after blow to Spurgeon |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-teo-cries-foul-after-blow-t/144464676/ |access-date=March 30, 2024 |publisher=Minnesota Star Tribune |date=March 24, 2012|via=newspapers.com}}
Due to the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Spurgeon and Ennis joined the SCL Tigers of the National League A (NLA) in Switzerland.{{cite web |title=Tyler Ennis und Jared Spurgeon zu den SCL Tigers |url=http://www.scltigers.ch/news-detail.aspx?navi=8&id=1240 |website=scltigers.ch |access-date=January 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027224437/http://www.scltigers.ch/news-detail.aspx?navi=8&id=1240 |archive-date=October 27, 2012 |language=de-CH}} He played 12 games with the SCL Tigers but suffered a groin injury when the lockout was near its end.{{cite news |last1=Russo |first1=Mike |title=Wild's Devin Setoguchi says he is taking time off from ECHL team; Jared Spurgeon update |url=https://www.startribune.com/wild-s-devin-setoguchi-says-he-is-taking-time-off-from-echl-team-jared-spurgeon-update/184043351/ |access-date=March 23, 2024 |publisher=Minnesota Star Tribune |date=December 19, 2012}} He recorded five goals and 15 points through 39 games with the Wild in the 2012–13 season and signed a three-year contract extension on July 5, 2013.{{cite web |title=Spurgeon re-signs with Wild |url=https://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=676725 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130709183218/https://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=676725 |archive-date=July 9, 2013 |date=July 5, 2013}}
Spurgeon began the 2013–14 season on the Wild's second defensive pairing with Marco Scandella.{{cite news |last1=Graff |first1=Chad |title=Minnesota Wild’s Ryan Suter gets record, Jared Spurgeon gets kudos |url=https://www.twincities.com/2013/11/13/minnesota-wilds-ryan-suter-gets-record-jared-spurgeon-gets-kudos/ |access-date=March 24, 2024 |publisher=Twin Cities Pioneer Press |date=November 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240324024400/https://www.twincities.com/2013/11/13/minnesota-wilds-ryan-suter-gets-record-jared-spurgeon-gets-kudos/ |archive-date=March 24, 2024}} He spent a month on the Wild's injured reserve after injuring his left foot against the Buffalo Sabres on January 4. During his absence, the Wild maintained an 8-4-2 record. Spurgeon returned to the Wild's lineup on February 4 and recorded two assists in a 2–1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.{{cite web |title=Spurgeon scores 2 points in return for Wild win |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/spurgeon-scores-2-points-in-return-for-wild-win/ |publisher=Sportsnet |access-date=March 23, 2024 |date=February 4, 2014}} During the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs, Spurgeon set the franchise record for most goals by a Wild defenseman in the postseason with three goals over 13 games.{{cite web |title=Minnesota Wild: Playoff Skater Records Most Goals, Defenseman, Playoff Year |url=https://records.nhl.com/min/records/playoff-skater-records/scoring-by-a-defenseman/most-goals-defenseman-one-season-playoff |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240324024857/https://records.nhl.com/min/records/playoff-skater-records/scoring-by-a-defenseman/most-goals-defenseman-one-season-playoff |archive-date=March 24, 2024}} In the Wild's first round series against the Avalanche, Spurgeon scored a late game-tying goal at the end of Game 6's third period to require a Game 7 elimination game.
On December 21, 2015, the Wild announced they re-signed Spurgeon to a four-year, $20.75 million contract extension. At the time of the extension, Spurgeon ranked third amongst defensemen in franchise history in goals, game-winning goals, power-play goals, and blocked shots.{{cite web |title=Wild Re-Signs Jared Spurgeon To A Four-Year Contract Extension |url=http://wild.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=793916 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222112906/http://wild.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=793916 |archive-date=December 22, 2015 |date=December 21, 2015}}
On September 14, 2019, with one year remaining on his contract, Spurgeon signed a seven-year, $53.025 million contract extension with the Wild. At the time of the singing, Spurgeon led all franchise defensemen in goals and blocked shots and was tied for first in game winning goals with 13.{{cite web |title=Wild, Spurgeon agree on seven-year contract extension |url=https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/jared-spurgeon-seven-year-contract-091419-309131756 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119160125/https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/jared-spurgeon-seven-year-contract-091419-309131756 |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |date=September 14, 2019}} On February 22, 2020, Spurgeon became the 12th defenseman in NHL history, and the second in Wild history, to have recorded a natural hat-trick.{{cite web |title=Facts and Figures: Spurgeon accomplishes rare feat with Wild |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/jared-spurgeon-scores-natural-hat-trick-12th-defenseman-in-nhl-history-315388720 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 23, 2024 |date=February 22, 2020}}
==Captaincy and injuries==
Spurgeon was named the franchise's second full-time captain on January 3, 2021, before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic-delayed 2020–21 season.{{cite web |title=Spurgeon named captain of Wild, replaces Koivu |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/minnesota-wild-name-jared-spurgeon-captain-319947112 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231013114108/https://www.nhl.com/news/minnesota-wild-name-jared-spurgeon-captain-319947112 |archive-date=October 13, 2023 |date=January 3, 2021}} On January 31, during a game against the Colorado Avalanche, Spurgeon became the second defenceman in team history to record 200 career assists with the team.{{cite web |title=Wild win in OT after Avalanche lose MacKinnon to lower-body injury |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/avalanches-mackinnon-suffers-lower-body-injury-wont-return-vs-wild/ |publisher=Sportsnet |access-date=March 19, 2024 |date=January 31, 2021}} A few days later in another game against the Avalanche, Spurgeon suffered a lower-body injury and missed the remainder of the third period.{{cite web |last1=Myers |first1=Dan |title=Postgame Hat Trick: Avalanche 2, Wild 1 |url=https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/hat-trick-avalanche-020221-321030670 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 19, 2024 |date=February 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240320032442/https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/hat-trick-avalanche-020221-321030670|archive-date=March 20, 2024}} While recovering from his lower-body injury, Spurgeon and various other teammates contracted a mild case of COVID-19. Due to the severity of the virus and the Wild's depleted members, the league cancelled the Wild's next four games.{{cite web |last1=Myers |first1=Dan |title=Wild searching for clarity as virus pauses team's season |url=https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/guerin-wild-covid-update-020821-321205844 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 19, 2024 |date=February 8, 2021}} Spurgeon was removed th Wild's COVID-19 protocol list on February 13,{{cite web |title=Wild players on COVID-19 protocol list |url=https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/wild-covid-19-protocol-list-321270530 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 19, 2024 |date=February 21, 2021}} and rejoined the Wild's lineup on February 19 for their game against the Anaheim Ducks.{{cite web |last1=Myers |first1=Dan |title=Captain's return sparks Wild in win over Ducks |url=https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/postgame-ducks-021821-321559960 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 19, 2024 |date=February 19, 2021}} The injury, illness, and delayed games resulted in a slow start for Spurgeon through the first 28 games of the season. After tallying only one goal and five assists, Spurgeon broke out offensively in the final 26 games of the season.{{cite web |last1=Myers |first1=Dan |title=It's Knight time: Breaking down the Wild's opening round playoff series |url=https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/playoff-preview-golden-knights-051521-324716700 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 19, 2024 |date=May 15, 2021}} Spurgeon broke his 26-game goalless drought, dating back to the Wild's final game of the regular season in 2020, by scoring twice on March 24, 2021, against the Ducks.{{cite web |last1=Myers |first1=Dan |title=Spurgeon scores twice as Wild's top defensive pair steps up its game |url=https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/postgame-ducks-032421-322875134 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 19, 2024 |date=March 24, 2021}} On April 29, Spurgeon recorded his 300th career NHL point to become the third player and second defenseman in team history to reach the milestone.{{cite web |title=Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon named Lady Byng Memorial Trophy finalist |url=https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/spurgeon-lady-byng-trophy-finalist-060521-325169672 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 19, 2024 |date=June 5, 2021}} Over the final 26 games of the regular season, Spurgeon added six goals and 19 points for a total of seven goals and 18 assists. Beyond leading all Wild defensemen in scoring and assists, Spurgeon also led the team in blocked shots with 102, ranked third in power-play points with nine, and fourth in shots on goal with 94. Spurgeon and the Wild met with the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs, but fell to them in seven games.{{cite web |last1=Myers |first1=Dan |title=Wild's belief never wavered, which makes Game 7 defeat harder to swallow |url=https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/postgame-golden-knights-game7-052821-325069374 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 19, 2024 |date=May 29, 2021}} On June 5, Spurgeon was named a finalist for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy as the league's most gentlemanly player. During the 2021 offseason, Spurgeon was one of three defensemen the Wild protected from the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft.{{cite web |title=Wild announces protected list for Expansion Draft |url=https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/wild-expansion-draft-protected-list-071821-325680992 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 19, 2024 |date=July 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240321000953/https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/wild-expansion-draft-protected-list-071821-325680992|archive-date=March 21, 2024}}
File:Brandon Montour and Jared Spurgeon.jpg
As Spurgeon's former defensive partner Ryan Suter left the Wild for Dallas during the offseason, Alex Goligoski was signed to replace him on the Wild's top defensive pair for 2021–22.{{cite news |title=Wild get veteran defenseman Alex Goligoski, miss out on other free agents |url=https://www.twincities.com/2021/07/28/wild-sign-veteran-defenseman-alex-goligoski-to-1-year-5-million-deal/ |access-date=March 19, 2024 |publisher=Twin Cities Pioneer Press |date=July 28, 2021}} After delivering a cross-check to Pavel Buchnevich's right ankle during a game against the St. Louis Blues on May 2, Spurgeon was fined $5,000 by the NHL Department of Player Safety but avoided a suspension.{{cite web |last1=Wyshynski |first1=Greg |title=Minnesota Wild's Jared Spurgeon not suspended for cross-check |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/33849348/minnesota-wild-jared-spurgeon-not-suspended-cross-check |publisher=ESPN |access-date=March 19, 2024 |date=May 3, 2022}} He finished the regular season with 10 goals and a career-high 30 assists for 40 points over 65 games.{{cite web |last1=Myers |first1=Dan |title=Post-season Send Off: Jared Spurgeon |url=https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/spurgeon-postseason-player-feature-052022-334214040 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 20, 2024 |date=May 20, 2022}}
On October 22, 2022, Spurgeon scored his 100th NHL goal and 348th point to pass centre Pierre-Marc Bouchard for fifth on the Wild's all-time points list.{{cite web |last1=Russo |first1=Michael |title=Wild struggle early, fall to Bruins in OT: ‘We’ve got to clean up our starts’ |url=https://theathletic.com/3719409/2022/10/22/wild-bruins-fall-overtime-starts/ |publisher=The Athletic |access-date=March 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240320033906/https://theathletic.com/3719409/2022/10/22/wild-bruins-fall-overtime-starts/ |archive-date=March 20, 2024 |date=October 22, 2022}} On February 19, 2023, during a game against the Nashville Predators, Spurgeon became the Wild's franchise scoring leader among defenceman with 370 career points.{{cite news |last1=McLellan |first1=Sarah |title=Jared Spurgeon becomes Wild franchise scoring leader among defensemen |url=https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-wild-jared-spurgeon-scoring-leader-defensemen-jonas-brodin-matt-dumba-kirill-kaprizov/600252912/ |access-date=February 21, 2024 |publisher=Star Tribune |date=February 19, 2023}} On January 18, 2024, Spurgeon was ruled out for the rest of the 2023–24 season due to multiple injuries that required surgeries.{{cite web |title=Spurgeon out rest of season for Wild with hip, back injuries |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/wild-jared-spurgeon-injured-out-for-season |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119161211/https://www.nhl.com/news/wild-jared-spurgeon-injured-out-for-season |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |date=January 18, 2024}} After spending the remainder of the season recovering, Spurgeon returned to the Minnesota Wild lineup for the 2024–25 season.{{cite news |last1=McLellan |first1=Sarah |title=Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon returns after two major surgeries and nine months on sidelines |url=https://www.startribune.com/wild-defenseman-jared-spurgeon-surgery-back-hip-returns-jake-middleton-nhl/601155995 |access-date=December 19, 2024 |publisher=Star Tribune |date=October 2, 2024}} He accumulated four goals and nine assists for 13 points before suffering another in-season injury against the Predators.{{cite web |title=Minnesota Wild captain Jared Spurgeon to miss two to three weeks |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/minnesota-wild-captain-jared-spurgeon-to-miss-two-to-three-weeks/ |publisher=Sportsnet |access-date=January 3, 2025 |date=January 2, 2025}} On February 2, Spurgeon became the first defenseman in franchise history and fourth overall to reach the 400 point milestone. His 400th and 401st career points were scored in his 900th career NHL game and helped him pass Zach Parise for third-most points in franchise history.{{cite web |last1=Daniel |first1=Dylan |title=Wild Finish Milestone and Memory Filled Canadian Swing |url=https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/wild-finish-milestone-and-memory-filled-canadian-swing-020225 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 4, 2025 |date=February 2, 2025}}
Personal life
Career statistics
border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em;" | ||||||||
bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Regular season ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Playoffs | ||||||||
bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Season ! Team ! League ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM | ||||||||
2005–06
| WHL | 46 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 28
| — | — | — | — | — |
bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2006–07 | Spokane Chiefs | WHL | 38 | 4 | 15 | 19 | 16
| — | — | — | — | — |
2007–08
| Spokane Chiefs | WHL | 69 | 12 | 31 | 43 | 19
| 21 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 16 |
bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2008–09 | Spokane Chiefs | WHL | 59 | 10 | 35 | 45 | 37
| 12 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 |
2009–10
| Spokane Chiefs | WHL | 54 | 8 | 43 | 51 | 18
| 7 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2010–11 | AHL | 23 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 10
| 23 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 10 |
2010–11
| NHL | 53 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 2
| — | — | — | — | — |
bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2011–12 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 70 | 3 | 20 | 23 | 6
| — | — | — | — | — |
2012–13
| NLA | 12 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 6
| — | — | — | — | — |
bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2012–13 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 39 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 4
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
2013–14
| Minnesota Wild | NHL | 67 | 5 | 21 | 26 | 16
| 13 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2014–15 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 66 | 9 | 16 | 25 | 6
| 10 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
2015–16
| Minnesota Wild | NHL | 77 | 11 | 18 | 29 | 14
| 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2016–17 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 76 | 10 | 28 | 38 | 20
| 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
2017–18
| Minnesota Wild | NHL | 61 | 9 | 28 | 37 | 8
| 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2018–19 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 82 | 14 | 29 | 43 | 20
| — | — | — | — | — |
2019–20
| Minnesota Wild | NHL | 62 | 12 | 20 | 32 | 18
| 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2020–21 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 54 | 7 | 18 | 25 | 6
| 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
2021–22
| Minnesota Wild | NHL | 65 | 10 | 30 | 40 | 10
| 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2022–23 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 79 | 11 | 23 | 34 | 14
| 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
2023–24
| Minnesota Wild | NHL | 16 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 2
| — | — | — | — | — |
bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" | NHL totals ! 867 !! 110 !! 274 !! 384 !! 146 ! 67 !! 8 !! 21 !! 29 !! 24 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Ice hockey stats}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{s-bef|before = Mikko Koivu}}
{{s-ttl|title = Minnesota Wild captain | years = 2021–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}
{{NHLCaptains}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spurgeon, Jared}}
Category:Canadian ice hockey defencemen
Category:Houston Aeros (1994–2013) players
Category:Ice hockey people from Edmonton
Category:Minnesota Wild players
Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States
Category:New York Islanders draft picks