Those who have seen Engelland play should not be surprised to learn his father was a welder.
The Flames defenseman represents good, old-fashioned sweat and hard work, and his career is a testament to persistence.
Those who have seen Engelland play should not be surprised to learn his father was a welder.
The Flames defenseman represents good, old-fashioned sweat and hard work, and his career is a testament to persistence.
After a five-year junior career he earned a cursory look by the New Jersey Devils, who had selected him in the sixth round (No. 194) of the 2000 NHL Draft.
Engelland turned pro in 2003 and wound his way through several stops in the East Coast Hockey League and American Hockey League. Over a six-year stretch he didn't make an appearance in the NHL, but he kept plugging away.
Finally, Engelland impressed during a nine-game audition with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2009-2010 season. He found a fan in then-Penguins coach Dan Bylsma, who appreciated the simplicity of Engelland's game, his willingness to make the hard plays and his ability to complete the first pass out of the zone, along with the rough edges inherent with a 6-foot-2, 214-pound player's game.
He spent four full seasons in Pittsburgh and played limited minutes, occasionally taking a turn at forward.
On July 1, 2014, Engelland signed a three-year contract as a free agent with the Flames. He quickly made an impact, finishing fourth on the Flames in hits (135) and blocked shots (142) during his first season.
