The St. Louis Jr. Blues, proud members of the NA3HL, are pleased to announce that defenseman Mark Capkovichas signed a tender agreement with the Shreveport Mudbugs of the North American Hockey League. The Mudbugs play in the league’s South Division and won its regular-season championship this year.
A 5’9”, 165 lbs left-hander from Oakville, Mo., Capkovic was a major part of the Jr. Blues’ Fraser Cup Final run in his rookie season, where he scored 7 goals and added 21 assists in 39 regular-season games, finishing the year with a +23 rating. He was also a 2018 Top Prospects selection, recording four assists in three games for the 18U Selects White team, and added one goal and four assists as he played all seven of the Jr. Blues’ playoff matches.
Jr. Blues head coach Chris Flaugher commented that “we were incredibly happy to see Mark sign a tender with us last year and we’re even happier that he’s signed with Shreveport for next year. He’s really a complete package of a defenseman: strong in possession, tough and physical in both zones, useful on special teams, and with a never-quit attitude. [Shreveport head coach] Karlis Zirnis is getting a great player for next season.”
Capkovic is not the first Jr. Blues standout to make his way to Louisiana: last season former St. Louis forward Frankie Melton won the NAHL goal-scoring crown for the Mudbugs, parlaying that into a NCAA Division I commitment with Ferris State University. In addition, Jr. Blues forwards Jack Hatton and Jake Cox began their 2017-18 seasons with Shreveport.
