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Deryk Engelland to coach Silver Knights’ preseason game

Updated January 29, 2021 - 2:33 pm

Deryk Engelland is the rare person who keeps adding jobs in retirement.

The former Golden Knights defenseman became a special assistant to the owner for the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation after retiring in December. He started appearing on virtual programs with the team’s broadcasters and in-arena hosts.

On Friday, Engelland added a new title to his resume: coach. He led the Henderson Silver Knights to a 7-3 win in their first preseason game against the San Jose Barracuda at Orleans Arena. Coach Manny Viveiros and his staff haven’t had contact with the team since Tuesday, when they filled in for the Golden Knights’ coaches in a 5-4 shootout loss to the St. Louis Blues.

The score was tied 1-1 after the first period, and the Silver Knights scored five goals in the second.

Viveiros and his assistants watched the game from above. And Engelland didn’t rule out taking their advice during the game.

“I’m sure they’ll have the bird’s-eye view from up there, so if they see anything, I’ll definitely take text messages, or who knows, maybe answer a call from the bench or something if they need something changed,” Engelland said before the game. “For the most part, I’m just there to be on the bench, help out the kids.”

Engelland started helping the Silver Knights on Thursday when he ran practice for Viveiros and assistants Joel Ward and Jamie Heward. The three and Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon were on the T-Mobile Arena bench for the Blues game after a member of the Golden Knights staff tested positive and the NHL coaches subsequently self-isolated.

Engelland said because of “extreme caution” it was determined he should coach Friday. The league postponed the Golden Knights’ game Thursday against the Blues after defenseman Alex Pietrangelo and an additional coach entered the COVID-19 protocols. It also postponed the games on Monday and Wednesday against the San Jose Sharks.

Engelland didn’t sound nervous about his new responsibilities. He said because it’s an exhibition, he plans on rolling his lines and getting everyone playing time. The only decisions he’ll really have to make will be whether to change lines during stoppages.

“It’s going to be pretty much a no-brainer for me up there,” Engelland said. “I’m just going to be there helping out as much as I can and basically let them run themselves.”

The players seem to have taken the change in stride. Engelland said many were interested to learn one of the first stops of his professional career was at Orleans Arena with the ECHL’s Las Vegas Wranglers. The fact that he then had an 11-year NHL career should be a positive example.

“He has a lot of knowledge and wisdom from playing in the NHL for quite awhile,” forward Jermaine Loewen said. “It’s definitely different than what we all thought would happen, but we’re just making the best of the situation.”

Contact Ben Gotz at bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenSGotz on Twitter.

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