Jared Spurgeon Bio
Jared Spurgeon is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who serves as captain of the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on November 29, 1989, in Edmonton, Alberta, Spurgeon has built his reputation as an undersized but steady two-way defender and a long-time leader for his franchise. Selected 156th overall by the New York Islanders in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, he joined the Wild after going unsigned by New York and has remained with Minnesota for the entirety of his NHL career.
Early Life and Background
Jared Spurgeon was born on November 29, 1989, in Edmonton, Alberta, to Barry and Debbie Spurgeon. He grew up alongside his older brother Tyler, who also played ice hockey, and older sister Breanne. The Edmonton household produced a family of hockey fans, and Spurgeon grew up cheering for the Edmonton Oilers. He was especially drawn to Doug Weight, largely because his grandfather held a pair of Oilers season tickets that he rotated among different Spurgeon family members.
As a young player in Alberta, Spurgeon played minor hockey alongside Tyler Ennis, and their fathers served as coaches on their teams. Although he started as a forward, Spurgeon was moved to defence at the age of 13 while playing in the peewee ranks. He and Ennis were eventually cut from their Bantam AAA team because of their small stature, and the pair went on to play together on the Knights of Columbus Squires U15 AAA team in the Alberta Elite Hockey League. During the 2004–05 season, Spurgeon recorded 35 points in 37 games and represented his region at the 2005 Alberta Cup.
Path to Professional Hockey
Spurgeon’s strong 2004–05 season earned him a selection in the tenth round of the Western Hockey League draft by the Spokane Chiefs. He was also chosen by the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in the United States Hockey League 2005 Futures Draft. After joining the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL in 2005–06, Spurgeon made the jump to major junior hockey and posted three goals and nine assists for 12 points in his rookie season.
During the 2007–08 campaign, Spurgeon earned a larger role as a member of the Chiefs’ top power-play unit. Head coach Bill Peters praised his on-ice vision and competitive nature, calling him a “pit bull out there.” Spurgeon finished the regular season with a career-high 43 points, was named Chiefs Defenseman of the Year and Most Sportsmanlike Player, and then helped Spokane win the 2008 Memorial Cup. He was selected 156th overall by the New York Islanders later that spring.
Jared Spurgeon Career
Western Hockey League (2005–2010)
In the 2008–09 season, Spurgeon set and matched two Spokane franchise records on his way to a career-high 35 assists and 45 points. He was one of three Chiefs players selected for the 2008 ADT Canada–Russia Challenge and attended Canada’s camp for the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He closed the year with 10 goals and was again named Spokane’s Defenseman of the Year, this time also earning the team’s Players’ Player award.
Shoulder surgery kept Spurgeon out of the start of the 2009–10 season, but he returned to record a career-high 43 assists and 51 points. He was recognized as one of the Top 25 Chiefs in 25 Years and finished his WHL career with 170 points over five seasons, the fourth most for a Spokane defenseman. His 2009–10 season also brought a finalist nod for the WHL’s Brad Hornung Trophy as the league’s Most Sportsmanlike Player.
Minnesota Wild Arrival and NHL Debut (2010–2013)
The Wild invited the unsigned Spurgeon to their 2010–11 training camp after he had finished in Spokane. He scored a goal and an assist at the 2010 Traverse City Rookie Tournament before signing a three-year entry-level contract on September 23, 2010. He was assigned to the Wild’s AHL affiliate, the Houston Aeros, and impressed the coaching staff with an eight-game point streak before his first NHL recall. Because of his small frame, Wild beat writer Michael Russo later admitted he had initially dismissed Spurgeon’s call-up as a joke.
Spurgeon made his NHL debut on November 29, 2010, against the Calgary Flames and recorded his first career NHL point on January 25, 2011, against the Chicago Blackhawks. He scored his first career NHL goal on February 22, 2011, against Nikolai Khabibulin of the Edmonton Oilers. He finished his rookie season as one of only three defencemen in NHL history to record only one penalty in at least 50 games and helped Houston reach the Calder Cup Finals before suffering an injury in Game 5. After a strong sophomore 2011–12 campaign, Spurgeon joined the SCL Tigers of Switzerland’s National League A during the 2012–13 NHL lockout, playing 12 games before a groin injury cut his stay short.
Becoming a Top Defenseman (2013–2020)
Spurgeon began the 2013–14 season paired with Marco Scandella on Minnesota’s second defensive pairing. He set a franchise record for most goals by a Wild defenseman in a postseason with three goals over 13 games during the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs. In a memorable Game 6 of the first-round series against the Colorado Avalanche, Spurgeon scored a late tying goal to force a deciding Game 7.
On December 21, 2015, the Wild re-signed Spurgeon to a four-year, $20.75 million contract extension. At that point he ranked third in franchise history among defensemen in goals, game-winning goals, power-play goals, and blocked shots. Four years later, on September 14, 2019, he signed a seven-year, $53.025 million contract extension that kept him in Minnesota for the long term. On February 22, 2020, Spurgeon became the 12th defenseman in NHL history, and the second in Wild history, to record a natural hat trick.
Wild Captain Era (2020–2025)
The Wild named Spurgeon the franchise’s second full-time captain on January 3, 2021, before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic-delayed 2020–21 season. He became the second defenceman in team history to record 200 career assists with the Wild on January 31, 2021, against the Colorado Avalanche. After battling a lower-body injury and a mild case of COVID-19, Spurgeon broke out offensively in the final 26 games of the season, finishing with seven goals and 25 assists while leading Wild defensemen in scoring and leading the team with 102 blocked shots. He was also named a finalist for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy as the league’s most gentlemanly player.
Spurgeon continued to climb the franchise record book in the seasons that followed. On October 22, 2022, he scored his 100th NHL goal and passed Pierre-Marc Bouchard for fifth on the Wild’s all-time points list. On February 19, 2023, against the Nashville Predators, he became the Wild’s all-time scoring leader among defensemen with 370 career points. Multiple injuries requiring surgery forced him out for the remainder of the 2023–24 season, but he returned for 2024–25 and on February 2 reached 400 career NHL points in his 900th game, becoming the first defenseman and fourth player in franchise history to reach that milestone.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although he is undersized for an NHL defenseman at 5 feet 9 inches and 166 pounds, Spurgeon has carved out his career with elite hockey sense and an unusually high compete level. Coaches have long praised his on-ice vision and willingness to play a physical game, traits that allowed him to quarterback power plays and log top-pairing minutes. His partnership with various Wild teammates has leaned on his reliable defensive positioning and his efficient distribution of the puck on the attack.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the most memorable moments of Spurgeon’s career was his natural hat trick on February 22, 2020, which placed him among a small list of NHL defensemen to accomplish the feat. He reached his 100th NHL goal and 300th career point while surpassing long-standing Wild franchise benchmarks, and he later became the first Wild defenseman to record 400 points. Each milestone reinforced his standing as the greatest defenseman in Minnesota Wild history.
Jared Spurgeon Personal Life
Family Background and Personal Life
Spurgeon is married to his wife, Danielle, and the couple has four children together: two sons and two daughters. He has long credited his family, including his parents Barry and Debbie and his brother Tyler, with shaping his approach to the game. Despite a long NHL career in the United States, Spurgeon remains closely tied to his Edmonton roots.
Jared Spurgeon 2025 Season Performance
Spurgeon entered the 2024–25 season back with the Wild after surgeries forced him out for the remainder of 2023–24. He quickly reminded fans of his value, accumulating four goals and nine assists for 13 points before another in-season injury against the Nashville Predators. Even with the interruption, he continued moving up the franchise’s all-time lists and further cemented his legacy as the backbone of the Wild’s defense.
On February 2, 2025, Spurgeon reached 400 career NHL points and 401 total in his 900th game, an achievement that also moved him past Zach Parise for third on the Wild’s all-time points list. Beyond the offensive numbers, his shot-blocking and quiet leadership remained central to a Wild team trying to return to playoff contention. As captain, he continued to set the standard for work rate and discipline in the Minnesota locker room.
Looking ahead to the rest of 2025 and beyond, Spurgeon remains the heart of a Wild team that has built much of its identity around him. With his long-term contract and steady presence on the top pairing, Minnesota’s short-term outlook depends heavily on his health and continued production. Whether chasing another playoff appearance or mentoring the next generation of Wild defensemen, Spurgeon is positioned to remain a central figure in Minnesota hockey.
