Drew Englot may only have nine points so far in his first season in the WHL, but with goals in back-to-back games against Swift Current this past weekend, he is starting to find his footing.
(Photo – Clint Englot)
Englot was acquired from the Lethbridge Hurricanes on May 9th, 2019, for a fourth-round WHL Bantam Draft pick. He was drafted by Lethbridge 76th overall in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft.
In the release from the Regina Pats, general manager John Paddock was quoted saying, “We are excited to add Drew to our group. We were able to watch a lot of Notre Dame games down the stretch. Drew has a lot of qualities that we value for the Regina Pats and we look forward to him contributing to our team.”
“He’s a professional already at a young age and pleasure to work with.”
Regina Pats Head Coach Dave Struch on Englot
The 6-foot-2, 191-pound product of Candiac, SK, spent 3 years at Notre Dame playing for the Hounds. In his draft year, he played for the Bantam Prep team in the CSSHL. He registered four goals and 10 assists while playing in 30 games.
(Photo – Clint Englot)
In the next season, Englot joined the Midget AAA team. He contributed six goals and nine assists in the regular season and playoffs combined as the Hounds won the Saskatchewan Midget AAA title. The Hounds then represented Saskatchewan in the Telus Cup West Regionals tournament. Drew scored three goals in four games as the Hounds punched their ticket to the Telus Cup. In the Midget AAA National Championship, Englot scored three goals and three assists in seven games as the Hounds won gold. Current Pats defenceman Ryker Evans was also on that team.
Drew represented Saskatchewan at the WHL Cup in the fall of 2017.
Englot returned to the Hounds Midget AAA program for the 2018-19 season. He captained the team as it repeated as Saskatchewan champions. The Hounds’ season ended at the Telus Cup West Regionals. Drew had an excellent season, recording 24 goals and 26 assists in 58 total games played.
“It’s not a new role, it’s his role. It’s just more ice time that he’s earned along the way.”
Struch on Englot getting more opportunity lately
“It’s actually been really good. I thought it would take me a lot longer to start finding the back of the net and get confidence,” Englot said when asked about the transition to the WHL from Midget. “After I got like 10 games under my belt, I kind of got the speed under me and the strength. I can keep up with the guys, (compared) to midget, it’s not too big of a difference, just the strength. I gotta keep working and get stronger.”
(Photo – Clint Englot)
When asked about Englot and his increased ice time, Pats head coach Dave Struch responded glowingly. “His work ethic is the reason for it. Because of his work ethic, he gets so many opportunities to play the right way defensively and execute that and learn from it. Offensively he gets opportunities, purely on work ethic and very coachable. He’s a professional already at a young age and pleasure to work with.”
“We had some good opportunities with him in front. Obviously last night (Saturday) he was a big part of the goals that we did score,” said Struch regarding Englot getting power-play time. “He’s not coming off it. With the makeup of our team, our power play is going to be a gritty, greasy, score goal group, and it’s (the) kind of player he is and he’s earned the right to be where he is. With the move we just made with Ty Kolle (traded to Everett), it opened up a great opportunity for him. We had him there actually at the start of the year (on the power play) a couple times. He’s earned a lot more ice time and we’re giving it to him in that situation.”
