Clarkson University Athletics

SOPHOMORE YEAR (2025-26):  Sparkes provided Clarkson with size, physicality and a dependable defensive presence during his sophomore season. The 6-foot-8 defenseman appeared in 37 of the Golden Knights’ 38 games and recorded two assists, 25 shots and 15 blocked shots. He also finished with 42 penalty minutes while taking on a regular role along Clarkson’s blue line...Sparkes recorded his first point of the season against Princeton on November 22. His shot from the point helped create Luke Pakulak’s opening goal as Clarkson built an early lead against the Tigers. The assist came during a stretch in which Sparkes continued to establish himself as a steady presence in the Golden Knights’ defensive rotation...His second assist came in Clarkson’s dramatic 8-7 overtime victory over Union on February 7. Sparkes fired a shot from the right point that created a rebound for Jared Mangan, who converted the opportunity to open the scoring. The play helped the Golden Knights begin one of their most productive offensive performances of the season...Sparkes remained in the lineup throughout Clarkson’s postseason run, helping the Golden Knights defeat RPI before sweeping top-seeded Quinnipiac in the ECAC Hockey quarterfinals. His reach, strength and ability to defend around the net gave Clarkson a distinctive physical element on the blue line.

FRESHMAN YEAR (2024-25):   Jack Sparkes became a regular part of Clarkson’s defensive corps during his freshman season, appearing in 38 of the Golden Knights’ 39 games. The 6-foot-8 defenseman recorded one goal and four assists for five points while finishing with a plus-one rating. He also registered 26 shots, 37 blocked shots and 50 penalty minutes...Sparkes scored his first collegiate goal on October 25 at Michigan Tech. With the game tied late in the second period, he found the net to give Clarkson a 2-1 lead. The goal stood as the game-winner as the Golden Knights completed a 4-1 road victory...The Ottawa, Ontario, native recorded his first collegiate assist against UMass Lowell on November 30 and later added another in a 5-3 conference victory over Union. Sparkes delivered an important contribution late in the regular season at Cornell, assisting on Ayrton Martino’s third-period game-winning goal in Clarkson’s 3-1 victory...Sparkes also contributed during Clarkson’s postseason run, recording an assist in the Golden Knights’ ECAC Hockey quarterfinal series against Harvard. He remained in the lineup as Clarkson advanced through the quarterfinals and earned a place in the conference championship weekend at Lake Placid.

The back of the Hockey Card:  Jack is a right shot defenseman from Toronto, Ontario…Sparkes is a 2022 6th Round Draft Pick of the LA Kings (180th overall)…Split last season between Muskegon in the USHL and Chilliwack in the BCHL.

Get to know Jack:  Son of Paul and Allison Sparkes…Has a brother Ben Sparkes…Also played lacrosse and golf growing up…Loves to Fly Fish…Grandfather, Al MacNeil, won 4 stanley cups, over a career as a player and coach in the NHL…Graduated from St. Michael’s College School in 2021…will enter as a Business Studies Major at the Reh School of Business at Clarkson.

Why Jack chose Clarkson:  “I chose Clarkson because it was the best fit for me to develop as a hockey player and as a student.”