The Oceanside Shock profiled rookie forward James Spaargaren in their weekly player spotlight Wednesday, Nov. 4, highlighting an Escondido native who carries a Carlsbad listing on the team roster.

Spaargaren, 25, wears No. 51 for the FPHL expansion club. The Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) team's bio describes him as "an Escondido born-and-raised native" looking to build on his second season in the league, though his roster entry lists his hometown as Carlsbad, CA.

He didn't start playing hockey until age 13, according to a March 2024 announcement from the San Diego Sabers. He worked his way through junior hockey with the Chippewa Steel of the North American Hockey League and the Rochester Monarchs of the National Collegiate Development Conference before landing at Arcadia University.

He chose Arcadia for its inaugural season. In two years there, he put up 12 goals and 20 assists across 48 games, according to the Shock spotlight published by the North County Daily Star. His Arcadia roster page confirms he scored the first goal in program history, against Aurora. The team's MVP award now bears his name.

That matters.

His pro playing career began with a three-game tryout with the Pee Dee Ice Cats last season, according to the Shock bio. He is married to his wife Anika, and they have two children, Adelaide and Azaiah.

Off the ice, Spaargaren has coached young players in the San Diego area. The Sabers named him head coach of the United States Premier Hockey League junior club in March 2024, and the announcement noted he was lead trainer at HDC San Diego at the time.

In coverage published Friday, Oct. 30, by the North County Daily Star, Spaargaren talked about facing the first-place Fresno Falcons. He said the first weekend against Fresno was a first pro experience for many players in the Shock locker room, adding that the team had gained experience quickly and was ready to compete.

The Shock sit at 1-6-2 with four points and a six-game losing streak. Their next game is Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. at home against the Stockton Thunder.