Jared Spurgeon is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenseman and captain for the Minnesota Wild in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Born on November 29, 1989, in Edmonton, Alberta, he stands 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs approximately 166–176 pounds.
He shoots right and has built a remarkable career despite his smaller stature for a defenseman, earning recognition for his elite skating, hockey IQ, puck-moving ability, shot-blocking, and leadership.
Often described as a “pit bull” on the ice, Spurgeon has become one of the most reliable and durable blue-liners in the league, spending his entire NHL career with the Minnesota Wild.
Siblings
Jared grew up in West Edmonton as the youngest of three children born to parents Barry and Debbie Spurgeon.
He has an older brother, Tyler Spurgeon, who is three years his senior and also pursued a professional hockey career.
Tyler played in the Western Hockey League and later professionally in Europe, including stints in Austria and with Innsbruck HC, serving as a major inspiration and role model for Jared throughout their childhood.
Jared also has an older sister named Breanne, who has remained close to the family and has attended key milestones in his career.
Career
Spurgeon played his junior hockey with the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League, where he was a key contributor to the team’s 2008 WHL Championship and Memorial Cup victory.
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He was selected 156th overall by the New York Islanders in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft but went unsigned by the team.
After a strong final junior season, he attended the Minnesota Wild’s development camp as an invitee and impressed enough to earn a contract.
He made his NHL debut with the Wild on his 21st birthday, November 29, 2010, after starting the season with the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League.
Since then, Spurgeon has been a cornerstone of the Minnesota blue line.
He was named the second full-time captain in Wild history following Mikko Koivu’s retirement, beginning with the 2020–21 season.
Known for his consistency and two-way play, he has climbed to the top of nearly every franchise defensive statistical category, including games played, goals, points, plus-minus, and blocked shots among Wild defensemen.
On March 14, 2026, Spurgeon reached a major milestone by playing in his 1,000th NHL regular-season game—all with the Minnesota Wild—becoming just the second player in franchise history to achieve 1,000 games with the team after Mikko Koivu.
Accolades
In junior hockey, Spurgeon helped the Spokane Chiefs win the WHL Championship and the 2008 Memorial Cup.
He earned multiple honors with the Chiefs, including Defenseman of the Year, Most Sportsmanlike Player, Player’s Player, and was a finalist for the WHL’s Brad Hornung Trophy.
In the NHL, he has twice been named a finalist for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, awarded for sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with high-level play.
He has also been nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which recognizes perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.
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