Stars’ captain, Spagrud nominated for year-end hardware

With still just over a handful of games remaining in the regular season schedule, Spagrud already set new career-highs in each offensive category across the board. The veteran’s 10 goals have doubled his previous high watermark, while his 29 assists match last season’s bar.

Currently on the year, Spagrud sits fourth amongst all defencemen in points, with 39 in 50 games, while also ranking third amongst blue liners in goals, with 10.

In addition to the continued evolution of his offensive game, Spagrud has also provided a steady mentoring presence for one of the league’s youngest and most inexperienced blue lines heading into the season.

Seven rookie blue liners having suited up for the Stars over the course of the campaign, including four freshmen who have remained on the roster all season.

One of those young players just beginning his SJHL career, is 18-year-old, Tanner Scott, who played majority of his season to the left of the captain, patrolling the Stars’ backend.

“I just want to give a huge congrats to him, and I couldn’t think of a more deserving guy than Cody Spagrud to get the nominations,” Scott said. “He puts in the work every day; doesn’t take a shift off and proves himself every night.”

As for the impact of playing with the veteran, Scott called Spagrud “a really easy guy to play with,” highlighting his poise by adding “he just knows what to do with the puck, and when to do it.”

Matthias Urbanski, Spagrud’s teammate the last two years, called the defenceman’s nominations for both Defenseman of the Year and Player of the Year a “rightfully deserved honour.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised honestly if he wins both of them,” Urbanski said. “He’s a really talented player obviously, [as] you can tell on the ice, he stands out every game. He’s also one of our biggest difference makers; when we’re without him it’s always a struggle, but with him we have a really good chance to win.”

Urbanski’s praise of his teammate is backed up by the stats as well, as Spagrud only missed two games this season – both Stars’ losses, on Jan. 4 and Jan. 5.

Battlefords’ bench boss, Brayden Klimosko, repeatedly referred to the all-star blue liner as “a horse on the backend,” and “a coach’s dream,” throughout the season, as a testament to Spagrud’s ability to thrive in any game situation.

Asked for his thoughts on the nominations, Klimosko also had nothing but the highest acclaim for his team’s leader.

“Cody’s been the heartbeat of our hockey club the whole year,” Klimosko said. “He’s been our captain; he’s been that consistent-effort guy on the back end that we need day-in and day-out.

Of both awards he’s very deserving, [and] at the end of the day I think he has a chance of winning them both. He brings so much to our team and so much to our community; I can’t imagine our team next year without him.”

All things considered, no matter the outcome of the SJHL awards, it’s no secret that Cody Spagrud left his mark in the Battlefords with the North Stars’ organization both as a player, a leader, and a person.

Perhaps Stars’ forward, Dayton Heino said it best, wrapping up the defenceman’s aura in a single, almost poetic word.

“The guy’s a legend,” Heino said. “He deserves it more than anyone; he works hard every day and he shows what it takes to be a true leader.”

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

Stars’ captain, Spagrud nominated for year-end hardware

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