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Jonathan Aspirot took on a variety of roles and positions for the Calgary Wranglers in 2024-25
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Photo credit: Angela Burger/Calgary Wranglers
Paige Siewert
Jun 22, 2025, 12:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 20, 2025, 02:52 EDT
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Since Jonathan Aspirot joined the Calgary Wranglers, he has been an interchangeable piece of their lineup. This defenceman adjusts his game to any defensive partner he has even if that’s multiple different pairings a game. On top of that, he also has not hesitated to help the team on the wing when depth up front is lacking. Aspirot proved his versatility for another year with Calgary and continued to establish himself as a core player and one of the team’s alternate captains.

2024-25 expectations

The Wranglers anticipated quite a bit of depth going into this past season. Because of that, the days of Aspirot playing up front among the forwards were expected to be over. Aspirot was expected to be a regular member of the defensive pairings, filling in where he was needed and most effective. That role was expected to change from night to night with other defenders like Hunter Brzustewicz, Artem Grushnikov and Jeremie Poirier in the mix that needed to develop. Even with competition at his position, Aspirot was likely going to play in most of the games.

2024-25 results

Depth quickly dwindled for the Wranglers and as more injuries and call-ups were happening from the Flames then from the Rapid City Rush, the defensive group seemed to be the easiest to fill in. Aspirot was a regular defender with Ilya Solovyov for the first part of the season and around the midway mark, the team started leveraging a seven defender and 11 forward system more regularly. This let Aspirot rotate in with multiple pairings in multiple scenarios for special teams especially. 
At multiple points in the season, even seven defenders left tough lineup choices and injured forwards required Aspirot to get time on the wing. He’d usually be on the fourth line along guys like Alex Gallant, Lucas Ciona, David Silye or Parker Bell, but did not look out of place by any means. Out of everyone, he was the most versatile and played with an energy to his game that made him really tough to scratch when lineup choices had to be made.
When Aspirot talked about the flexibility in his game, he said:
“I try not to overthink anything. You’ve just been playing hockey since we’re young, so I think you just trying to enjoy the time we have on the ice and try your best to do what you’re good at and keep it simple in that way.”
He talked a little more about how playing up front with the forwards changed up his game a little saying:
“It’s always fun to be able to put up points and keep your pace as you do, and when I play the defenceman, but I think it’s just fun to play the game this way. I think it’s a different way to play the game for me. I think it kind of changed my hockey style to be a bit more of a power forward.”
Aspirot had another solid year for the Wranglers and got the opportunity to represent Canada at the Spengler Cup in December. He missed a few games with Calgary but got a great opportunity on the international stage. He played three games out in Davos, Switzerland and picked up an assist in that time. 
When he reflected on that tournament, he said:
“That was awesome. Yeah, getting the invite to play for Team Canada was always a big dream of mine. I never thought it was to come true with my resume and stuff like that, but I think it was awesome to go to the Spengler. Playing in Europe too was a first for me, being over there and see the way the hockey plays over there. It’s a lot different than North America, yes, but it was great to just be around these guys. It was great tournament, team kind of took care of us unbelievably, so it was lots of fun.”
On top of the memories and experience, Aspirot also kept a team photo from after winning the first game that included all the family members of the players behind him in the stands. 
When he returned to the Wranglers, he picked right up where he left off. In the regular season, Aspirot finished with 29 points in 65 games, just four points below where he finished the 2023-24 season. In the playoffs, he was one of the more active players on the scoresheet, averaging a point per game with two assists in two games. 

Next season’s expectations

Aspirot is another Wrangler in contract conversations this summer. His last contract was a one-year two-way deal with the Flames and he currently sits as a Group 6 unrestricted free agent. Similarly to Clark Bishop, the club has another older player who knows the Wranglers system well and would be another easy contract to carry on. Especially with someone who’s able to work multiple parts of the lineup. 
Aspirot is not someone who has earned a call-up with the Flames in the two years he’s been in the organization so he might be at a “what you see is what you get,” scouting point internally. He could fill in when called upon, but he’s not going to be the first guy on your calling card for an NHL role. For now, we’ll wait to hear news of where he’s headed next or if he’ll be back in the fall for his third year with the Calgary Wranglers.

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