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Engel finds niche at new position
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Also by Tyler Mason:
- Miami could ruin Pats' perfect mark (December 13, 2007)
- Wisconsin hockey continues road woes in Mankato (December 10, 2007)
- Hot stove season best time of year (December 6, 2007)
- Engel finds niche at new position (December 6, 2007)
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by Tyler Mason
Thursday, December 6, 2007
With zero goals scored entering this season, Josh Engel might not have seemed like the most likely candidate to switch to forward.
But with a strong incoming class of defensemen entering the fray for the Badgers at the beginning of the season — including NHL Entry Draft first-round picks Ryan McDonagh and Brendan Smith — the position was becoming crowded, and something needed to be done.
"The coaching staff talked about it and brought me in and asked if I would do it," Engel said of the switch. "We had a lot of depth on defense, and a lot of good guys coming in. Instead of making the decision to see who’s going to sit out that game, they just asked me if I would move to forward."
The decision to change positions was a tough one for Engel. After playing on defense for the previous three years of his UW career, Engel knew the move had to be made.
"I was a little disappointed at first, but then I kind of understood," Engel said. "I thought it would be a challenge. I wanted to face a challenge.
"I [also] just wanted to do whatever was best for the team."
Doing what’s best for the team meant moving to offense, a position that Engel has finally become comfortable with.
"He’s done really well," forward Ben Street said. "He keeps it really simple. … He makes a lot of smart plays."
Engel broke out with his biggest game of the year — and career — Saturday against St. Cloud State. He had his first multi-goal game as a Badger while skating on the team’s second line with Blake Geoffrion and Patrick Johnson. The second of the two goals, which came with two and a half minutes remaining in the contest, proved to be the game-winner.
"I haven’t had two goals since high school," Engel said. "It definitely felt really good."
"The puck just came right to him, but that can happen when you’re in the right place at the right time," defenseman Davis Drewiske said. "If you put yourself in the right position, your chances of scoring really increase."
The line of Engel, Geoffrion and Johnson has clicked for the Badgers, as they were responsible for four of the team’s seven goals in the weekend series against St. Cloud State.
"Being on that line with Geoffrion and Patrick Johnson was a line that has kind of evolved into a line that can play against the other team’s best," head coach Mike Eaves said. "You know what you’re going to get for the most part."
Even before the multi-goal night, Eaves said he saw the type of play from Engel that the coaching staff was looking for following his transition. Engel scored in the team’s first game of the season against Notre Dame and later had a streak in which he recorded assists in three out of four games.
"He knows how to play without the puck because he was a defenseman," Eaves said. "[His line] played so well without the puck that they actually created scoring chances and took advantage of it."
Despite the recent success he has had finding the net, Engel is the first to admit that he isn’t Wisconsin’s first threat on offense.
"I’m not going to be going out there and scoring all the time like (Kyle) Turris is going to be doing, or [Ben Street] or Blake," Engel said. "I’m sort of fitting into my role right now, which is more defensive, but then once we get into the zone I try to get in front of the net and cause trouble for the goalie."
Senior defenseman Davis Drewiske has noticed Engel has become a lot more comfortable at his new position.
"Obviously he’s a smart player, so I think he’s made a good transition," Drewiske said. "It’s a different viewpoint playing forward than it is from playing defense. I think he does a very good job with his position, and he knows where he’s supposed to be."
Drewiske, who played forward a bit at the end of last season, understands the difficulty of having to fit into a new role on the ice.
"I think it’s a tribute to Josh, and really like a lot of guys on this team, that they’re willing to do whatever it takes to help the team," Drewiske said. "Maybe he wasn’t thrilled about it at first, but he’s worked hard, he’s been excited to be here, and he’s done a great job."
With the background he has brought to UW's offense, Engel has been able to help out on defense as well while he’s on the ice.
"He’s been a key player for us as a defensive forward," Drewiske said. "He has great awareness; he understands the defensive side of the game very well. … It’s like having a third defenseman out there."
As far as he’s come in his adaptation to the forward position, Engel admits that he’s still got a lot to improve upon as the Badgers head into the second half of the season.
"You have to learn a different side of the game," Engel said. "It was kind of tough right away, but the coaches are always working with me. I’m trying to learn, but I still have a long way to go."
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