It was a long and winding road for Carmel’s Jerome Engele who played 100 games in the National Hockey League and is now being inducted into the Humboldt and District Hall of Fame at their 2017 induction ceremony.
Engele called the induction a shock when he found out, noting he questioned why he was even being inducted.
“You think about what did I do? All I’ve been doing is playing a sport and being involved in a sport that I really like and that’s hockey and I didn’t really think that I’ve done anything. So it’s pretty humbling that they would think that I should deserve the honour of being in that Hall of Fame with some great athletes.”
Engele grew up in Carmel where he played on an outdoor rink with friends and family. That is where he go interested in hockey.
“We would be playing out there on Saturday’s. You’ve got to shovel snow to clean the rink… and then sometimes dad and a few other dads would play against us on a Saturday. So we would have a little fun.”
After playing on an outdoor rink for several years Engele got his first taste of organized hockey at 12 years old when he joined the bantam ranks with Humboldt Minor Hockey.
Engele says it was that move that really kick started his career and gives a lot of credit to the minor hockey program in Humboldt for allowing Engele to join even though he was right on the edge or slightly outside of the boundary at the time.
“I really appreciate that they opened the door for me and then I had great coaching… they were really instrumental in helping me improve on my basics of hockey. So without Humboldt and the opportunity they gave me I would have never been a hockey player.”
While Engele did have a lot of experience playing hockey in the lead up to joining Humboldt Minor Hockey he says he had to be a big sponge and try to pick up on more of the basics faster as he was generally behind most of the players he played with.
“Most of the guys I was playing with already knew that stuff so you’ve got to learn more. So I guess I was just fortunate and really I’m just happy that I was given that opportunity and the coaches took the time.”
Engele admits that he does not remember a great deal from his time playing hockey in Humboldt but says one of his fondest memories was the trip from Carmel to Humboldt for practices.
“(I’d be) in the back seat of the car getting dressed after school into my equipment. So when we’d get to the rink I’d be able to just quick put on my skates and get on the ice in time for practice.”
After playing in the Humboldt Minor Hockey system Engele made the jump to junior, where he spent five seasons playing with the Saskatoon Blades.
The next four and a half seasons saw Engele work his way through the minor leagues moving from the Eastern Hockey League, to the International Hockey League, to the American Hockey League.
Finally in the 1975-1976 season Engele got his break as he made his NHL debut in Madison Square Garden, with the Minnesota North Stars.
Engele says it was that game and others in the old Chicago Stadium, as well as the Montreal Forum that really stand out in his mind.
“Once you get in and stand there for the opening anthem it kind of puts goosebumps on your back.”
As a defenseman Engele says he really does not have a play on the ice that was truly memorable for him, saying he was not relied upon to be a goal scorer.
“All I did was block shots and get hit or hit people and tried to make sure nobody scored against us. So I can’t say there was any great feats where I scored a winning goal or anything like that.”
Engele finished that season with 17 games played.
He split the next season between the AHL and NHL playing 52 games in the AHL and 31 with the North Stars.
The following season Engele played a career high 52 NHL games with the North Stars.
After three seasons and 100 games in the NHL Engele was sent back down to the AHL where he played one final season with the Nova Scotia Voyageurs before calling it a career.
Engele finished his NHL career with two goals and 13 assists.
In addition to playing 100 NHL games Engele added 478 games split between the EHL, IHL, AHL, and Central Hockey League.
It was those experiences that made the jump to the NHL that much sweeter, says Engele who notes is made him appreciate it that much more.
“Just the hard work and what you have to go through, the number of miles and hours that you put on the bus before you can finally get in to playing in the NHL and then ride on planes. It’s a great challenge to get there and then you get there it’s really nice and you don’t want to go back.”
Engele noted it was a dream come true to be able to play in the NHL, saying he took a big leap of faith in himself turning down a more lucrative contract from the World Hockey Association to be able to chase his NHL dream.
“I go well as a kid you always wanted to play in the NHL so money wasn’t everything. Let’s go and we’ll gamble and good thing I gambled because I made it to the NHL and you get to live your dream.”
Upon the completion of his playing career Engele made the jump to the coaching ranks as he was named Head Coach of the Saskatoon Blades for the 1979-1980 season.
Despite making the quick jump to the coaching ranks Engele says it was never really something he had considered noting he used to run the Blades fall camp as a way to get himself into shape.
“I really enjoyed that portion of it but I think when I was right out of playing pro and right into coaching junior I wasn’t ready yet because I had too much of that fight and fire in me where I wanted to win and it was more like me being a player instead of a coach.”
After one season as head coach Engele got the opportunity to join the Saskatoon Police, which he gladly accepted.
“I just couldn’t see myself becoming a career coach and in the end I’ve almost been a career coach anyway,” he laughs.
Engele has since returned to the Blades serving as an assistant coach in a pair of stints first from 1983-1997 and again from 2004-present.
“I’ve got to say it’s really rewarding for me to be an assistant coach.”
Having been a player and now a coach Engele says he has seen the game of hockey progress significantly, saying the level of coaching players are getting today is “ten times superior” to what he used to receive.
“If I would have learned some of the things that we’re teaching these kids today I probably would have been a way better hockey player. My hands would have been better anyway I’m sure. But it’s just how you progress and it shows the hockey world it’s just improving every year.”
Engele’s path may not have been an easy one but he says he wants that to be the lesson for all young players today.
“Never say die… if you want something you’ve got to work hard for it and try to achieve it. If you don’t achieve it the first time try again and if you don’t achieve it the second time try again. Don’t ever let anybody tell you you can’t do something because you can if you really want to.”
Engele, along with Brad Lauer, Wendy Toye, Kelly Bates, 2007-2008 Humboldt Broncos will all be inducted into the hall at this year’s induction ceremony on June 24, and Engele says he is looking forward to the evening.
“I’m sure we’ll have a good evening.”
