Q ' A with Engel, Drewiske and Klubertanz
June 18, 2008 | Men's Hockey
Throughout the month of June, fans can enjoy bonus hockey coverage several times every week featuring Coach Mike Eaves and his team. Today read question and answer sessions with three former Badgers ' defensemen Josh Engel, Davis Drewiske and Kyle Klubertanz. All three played professional hockey in the AHL following this past year's Wisconsin hockey season.
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Josh Engel
Q: You finished your senior year and signed a contract to play in the AHL; can you talk about that experience'
A: I signed an AHL amateur tryout contract where I got to play with the Albany River Rats, that's Carolina Hurricane's AHL team, and I ended up playing three games. It was definitely a good experience. The coaching staff was great, the guys were really great. It really wasn't that big of a jump from the college level to the AHL level. I thought it would be a lot bigger, but it really was not that big. It 's definitely more controlled. It was definitely a good experience. The coaching staff seemed to like me a lot. They have a great D coach, and it's kind of where I want to be next year. I don't know where I'll be, but that is definitely somewhere I'd like to be.
Q: What does your future hold for hockey' Do you think the NHL is in your future'
A: Right now my goal is to play in the AHL. I might have to spend some time in an East Coast League, but I would really like to play in the AHL. I can play in the AHL. As for the NHL, every hockey players dream is to do that. I am definitely going to try. If it ends up happening, it's not going to be for a while. I still have a lot to improve and a lot of growing to do, but I definitely want to be in the AHL. I'm still going to play hockey next year.
Q: At what point in your hockey career did you think, maybe I'm good enough to play for Wisconsin or another college team'
A: I don't know. High school I guess. That's when you start widening the gap from all the other guys on the
team. I just loved playing hockey. I always played summer hockey. I was always playing hockey all year round when others just played it in the winter time. So I guess I started taking it really seriously when I was a freshman in high school.
Davis Drewiske
Q: After the season ended you played in the professional ranks and signed contract; can you talk a little bit about it'
A: I was in Manchester, which is the L.A. Kings AHL affiliate, on a tryout contract for the remainder of their regular season and the playoffs. I was fortunate to sign a two year contract for LA. I will have some responsibilities this summer, the development camp in July and will get ready for the main camp come September. I'm really excited about it. It should be a good opportunity.
It was fun to play with former team mates Joe Piskula and Jeff Likens. It was really nice to have them there. They showed me the ropes a little bit, told me what to expect and what to look for so it worked out well.
Q: How was playing at that level different than playing in college'
A: A big difference right away is that everyone plays on NHL-sized ice. It's different form our league and things happen a little bit quicker. It was something I was able to adjust to pretty well. I like playing on a smaller sheet. You have to have good awareness and you have to know what is going on at all times because things happen really fast. The other biggest difference is you're on a smaller sheet but the guys are bigger. Everybody is pretty big, pretty solid. It's fast pasted. I wasn't uncomfortable with the pace. It's definitely a step up, but I think I was pretty well prepared form my time here for that transition.
Q: Is NHL a goal for you'
A: I don't think that is out of reach by any means, but I'm not going to kid myself. I know I still need to improve and I can still become a better player. But I got a little experience at the end of this year and it's something that I 'm really excited for next year, wherever that's going to be. Whether it 's in Manchester in the AHL or in L.A. in the NHL. Wherever it is, I'm excited for it, and I think I have a good chance to be successful as long as I continue to work hard.
Kyle Klubertanz
Q: You had an opportunity to play at the end of the season in the AHL in Portland. Can you talk about that experience'
A: It is a great experience just to go get your feet wet a little bit and play a few games at the end of the year. It was great to see how those older guys do it, how they handle the life because it's a lot different than in college. You're on your own. You don't have coaches really. You have to show up for three hours a day, and you have to really be there. You got to really show up. It was fun to see how they handle it and how they take care of themselves because it's a long season. I jumped in there and those guys were 70 or 80 games into the season, and you can tell you really have to take care of your bodies when you're up there. I got a feel for how the program is and what I have to come back here and work on.
I have to get bigger, faster, stronger. Every year you have to do that. It was a great experience and I'm really excited I got to do it.
Q: Portland is the affiliate of the Ducks, do you expect to sign a contract with them '
A: We'll see. That's a tough question to answer, but I don't have whole lot of control. All I can do is go out there and play and that's what I did, and I had fun doing it. I'm just going to sit and wait. There's not much I can do right now. I just got to sit and wait and see what they want to do, but whatever they want to do I'm not too worried about it. We'll just wait and see. Hopefully, I'd like to play for the team I got drafted by but we 'll just wait and see.
