COACH AND MORE
Jerome Engele is the Blades’ assistant coach, drives the bus, monitors study hall.
PRINCE GEORGE — Jerome Engele has worn just about every hat there is to wear with the Saskatoon Blades.
That included taping up his teammates and sharpening skates when his 1967-68 season was derailed because of a broken leg.
“I wound up being the trainer for the last quarter of the season,” said Engele of his 18-year-old campaign. “Over the years I’ve done every single thing … except play forward or in net.”
On the road, Engele — a current Blades assistant coach and former defenceman and head coach — only adds to his resume.
When the WHL team is away from Saskatoon, the 64-year-old is the backup bus driver and study hall monitor.
Engele got his start behind the wheel several years ago when the team’s bus driver got tired during a long road trip. He gave him a break and enjoyed the experience so much that he eventually got his licence.
“As a farm boy, you drive pretty much anything,” the Carmel, Sask., native said ahead of the Blades’ Tuesday game against the Prince George Cougars, which ended after press time.
“I fill that void whenever. I might as well be driving rather than sitting there looking out the window.”
He’s more proud of patrolling the study hall.
It goes without saying that not every WHLer is going to play pro like Engele did. He played 100 NHL games for the Minnesota North Stars.
He wants to make sure the players get their education.
Plus, as an inspector in charge of investigative support with the Saskatoon Police Service, watching over the players as they hit the books allows him to catch up on some paper work too.
“They have to realize that they have to study,” said Engele, who’s worked with the police for 34 years. “When you’re 16, it doesn’t mean much. So we all sit there as a team.”
Engele doesn’t let them take any shortcuts either.
A former teammate nicknamed him after Sheriff Buford T. Justice — the confrontational, take-no-nonsense character played by Jackie Gleason in the Smokey and the Bandit series.
It’s a moniker that’s stuck to this day.
“The odd ones get a little cocky and you have to straighten them out every once in a while,” he said with a smile.
The players know he means business.
“Jerome cracks the whip,” said rookie defenceman Schael Higson, who has been studying math and physics on the road trip. “If he catches you goofing off, he’ll add another 10 minutes onto study hall.”
Of course, Engele’s impact on the team isn’t limited to off-ice duties.
Engele was honoured as an all-time Blades’ builder in 2007 for his time as a player, head coach in 1979-80 and longtime assistant.
He worked under Lorne Molleken in the early 1990s and returned to the team when Molleken came back in 2004. When Bob Woods was hired as the head coach and general manager in June, he had carte blanche to do with his coaching staff what he saw fit.
He brought in Dean Brockman from Humboldt of the SJHL and opted to keep Engele and goaltending coach Tim Cheveldae on staff.
“He’s loves being around the guys and around the rink,” Woods said. “Those guys are valuable to have around.
“He brings a lot of wisdom with his history and his knowledge of the league. With Dean and myself coming in here, we didn’t know the league at all. To have somebody involved with it is always a plus for us.
“I know the guys love having him around. He’s one of those old-school guys that keeps everybody honest.”
Engele is quick to offer all sorts of tips to the players from shooting to scrapping.
He played a tough-asnails game as a blue-liner. Although he said the game has undoubtedly changed, toughness is still part of it.
“It’s also important that they learn how to protect themselves,” Engele said. “That’s something that we have to teach. It’s not that we condone fighting. My game was a tough game. But that’s how the game was played when I played.”
Whether it’s on the ice, on the bus or in a makeshift classroom, Engele is a jack of all trades. He also codes video, separating footage into specific facets of the game for future reference.
Regardless of what he’s doing, Engele is just trying to help — just like he tried to do when he was 18.
“You show energy and that you’re willing to help and do anything to succeed,” he said.