California Rubber

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Jr. Gulls, Titans graduate, San Diego native Spaargaren commits to first-ever class at NCAA D-III Arcadia

 

New Ulm Steel forward James Spaargaren has committed to play NCAA Division III hockey for Arcadia University.

The 2000 birth year will be joining a program in Arcadia that will be brand-new, starting with the 2021-22 season.

“I was excited to select Arcadia University because of its status as an academically driven school with smaller class sizes,” Spaargaren said. “I wanted to play at Arcadia largely because of head coach Vincent Pietrangelo. He is an experienced coach with a great track record and is very enthusiastic about the program and developing players.”

Spaargaren, a San Diego native, is in his third and final season of playing junior hockey in the NA3HL.

After coming to the Steel in the 2018-19 season where he accumulated six goals and 21 assists for 27 points in 44 games, he was called up to finish the season with the NAHL affiliate Chippewa Steel, playing five games with Chippewa to finish out the season.

The following season, he played with New Ulm for the second half. Now in the 2020-21 season, Spaargaren serves as a captain for the team and so far has collected eight goals and four assists for 12 points in 15 games.

“Coming from the West Coast, I’m excited to move out to Pennsylvania and experience the way of life out there,” said Spaargaren said. “I am very excited to be a part of the new Arcadia hockey program and create something special there. My time at New Ulm has been a great experience for me to develop as a hockey player and as a person. The coaches at New Ulm have really helped me develop my game for the next level.”

Prior to junior hockey, Spaargaren grew up playing for the San Diego Jr. Gulls and California Titans, both of the NAPHL.

Photo/NAHL

(Feb. 2, 2021)

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