More graduating members of the Canalta Cup champion Battlefords North Stars have announced their next stops on their hockey journeys.
Captain Cody Spagrud has committed to the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. In addition to his efforts to lead his team to the Cup, the 20-year-old defenceman from Gull Lake was the SJHL’s Top Defenceman for 2018-19.
“Obviously I’m really excited to be joining the Huskies,” Spagrud said in a statement on the North Stars’ website. “They’ve been a great team for a long time so it will be a good opportunity for me to become a better player and person.”
In a statement, Head Coach Brayden Klimosko congratulated Spagrud, calling him “one of the best players I have ever coached in my six years of coaching. Cody is a tremendous leader and will be irreplaceable for the North Stars.”
Another key member of the roster this season was forward Ryan Gil.
Gil, who earned the nickname the “California Kid” because he is from Huntington Beach, Cal., is heading back to the United States on a scholarship to Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Ariz.
Coach Klimosko said Gil was “relied on heavily for his offensive game as well as blocked shots. I wish him all the best in his future as a hockey player as well as a student.”
Gil won’t be the only former North Star on that college roster. The other news is that goaltender Chad Duran has also committed to Grand Canyon University.
Earlier, it had been announced Duran was headed to Div. 3 SUNY-Canton, but Grand Canyon confirmed on their Twitter feed on June 5 that Duran would instead be joining their program. Duran is from Littleton, Col., and joined the North Stars as a reliable veteran backup in net this season.
Finally, North Stars assistant captain and two-time Cup champion Owen Lamb has committed to University of Alberta Augustana Vikings. The North Stars forward scored 30 goals this season with the club.
“We’re very excited to add Owen to our Vikings hockey program,” said their head coach, Blaine Gusdal, in a statement. “He’s a proven winner with loads of playoff experience and two SJHL championships on his resume. He oozes true character and he’s going to have a wonderful university career.”
