Pats defender Ephram McNutt working on his pilot’s licence

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Ephram McNutt can really fly!

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Yes, he’s a decent skater. But the 19-year-old Regina Pats defender is also 10 solo-flying hours away from obtaining his pilot’s licence. He started taking lessons last summer at a flight school in Lacombe, Alta., about 30 kilometres from where his family lives near Red Deer.

“Having been around RCMP, corrections, federal government, the military, it’s always been appealing,” said McNutt. “Jets are something that thrill a lot of kids, but I just thought flight is such a cool thing, an opportunity for us to fly when we shouldn’t be able to, considering the dynamics of it and the technology.

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“I wasn’t sure how I could fit it in with hockey, but I ended up doing it in the summer and I’m taking my online courses now.”

McNutt has done most of his training in a Piper Cherokee, a low-winged, single-propellor aircraft with two or four seats. He needs 45 hours of solo flying to earn his licence, a task he expects to complete after this hockey season ends.

In the meantime, since being traded to Regina from the Prince George Cougars, the devoted outdoorsman hasn’t been able to go hunting but has gone ice fishing with teammates John Babcock and Caden Brown. There’s also an upcoming team-building activity to attend at RCMP Academy, Depot Division, an important place in his family’s history.

His parents, Holly Glassford and Trevor McNutt, met while training at Depot in Regina. They have since been stationed in Yellowknife, where Ephram was born, and the Maritimes before moving to Red Deer.

“I’m pretty passionate, pro-police,” said McNutt. “So it’s kind of cool for me to check out Depot, the museum, get an all-access tour and do some martial arts stuff with their trainers.

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“As much as I respect them and absolutely support everything they do, I don’t think (a law enforcement career) is for me. Mom and dad are definitely pushing me away a little bit, just knowing it’s high-stress and the toll it’s kind of taken on them. I would definitely look at their air services. (The RCMP has) a pretty impressive airplane and helicopter fleet. And so does the military.”

McNutt — a 6-foot, 176-pound right-shot defenceman, which is rare these days — was one of Prince George’s top four defenders when he was traded. He won the Cougars’ top academic award two years ago and was looking to finish his junior career in “PG.” As part of their makeover, the Pats realized their youthful roster needed veteran leadership, so they dealt disgruntled defender Corbin Vaughan to Prince George for McNutt and a 2025 second-round pick in the WHL prospects draft.

“I would say Ephram McNutt is like an onion,” said Pats head coach Brad Herauf. “He’s got lots of layers. The more things you peel away, the more things you learn about him.

“He’s an excellent kid. Super mature. He’s only been here for a short period of time, but I’ve leaned on him lots when it comes to leadership. We’re both learning and working together here but he’s going to be a big piece of our team going forward. And he already is a big piece.”

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In 13 games with the Pats, McNutt has one goal and seven assists. After losing 4-2 Wednesday to the hometown Lethbridge Hurricanes the Pats are on a four-game skid and have fallen to 12-26-6 heading into Friday’s game against the Prince Albert Raiders. Faceoff is 7 p.m. at the Brandt Centre.

“I was telling the guys it’s different coming from a team who doesn’t have a whole lot of winning its history to coming here,” said McNutt. “It’s an old (franchise). When you think of the league you think of the Pats. It’s been kind of a struggle here the past few years so you come in here and do what you can.

“Being traded is bittersweet, but it’s an opportunity for me to have a more substantial role as a team leader with all these young guys. No matter how I play or how many points I get, I just want to leave them with something and look back and be able to say that I did all I could to give them the best chance to win.”

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