Rod Langway

Rodney Cory Langway(born May 3, 1957) is anAmericanformer professionalice hockeydefensemanwho played for theMontreal CanadiensandWashington Capitalsin theNational Hockey League(NHL) andBirmingham Bullsof theWorld Hockey Association(WHA). He won the1979 Stanley Cupwith the Canadiens.

Rod Langway
Hockey Hall of Fame,2002
Langway in 2011
Born	(1957-05-03)May 3, 1957 Taipei,Taiwan
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	218 lb (99 kg; 15 st 8 lb)
Position	Defense
Shot	Left
Played for	Birmingham Bulls Montreal Canadiens Washington Capitals
National team	United States
NHL draft	36th overall,1977 Montreal Canadiens
WHA draft	6th overall,1977 Birmingham Bulls
Playing career	1977–1993

Langway also spent time with teams in theAmerican Hockey League(AHL) andEast Coast Hockey League(ECHL) as a player-coach after his NHL career ended. A two-time winner of theJames Norris Memorial Trophyas the top defenseman in the NHL, Langway was elected to theHockey Hall of Famein 2002.

Early life and amateur career

Langway was born to a US military family inTaipei,Taiwan,and is the only NHL player to have been born there. He grew up inRandolph, Massachusetts,and did not begin playing hockey until age 13 in 1970, aside from pick-up street hockey games with the neighborhood boys. He then ledRandolph High Schoolto three straight state tournament appearances in 1973, 1974 and 1975. He was also a standout quarterback for the Blue Devils and was one of the top football recruits in the nation. As a catcher on the Randolph High baseball team, Langway was considered a baseball pro-prospect. He was an honor student. However, the top college football programs in the country had identified Langway as a future NFL quarterback. It was a football recruiter from theUniversity of New Hampshirewho convinced him to play college hockey at UNH, one of the few schools that would allow him to playbothfootball and hockey in college, which he did without having to choose one over the other as an incoming freshman. Langway went on to lead UNH to the NCAA hockey final four in 1977. Ultimately, hockey ended up being the direction for him as a professional career. He was inducted into the Randolph High and UNH Athletic Halls of Fame.

Professional career

A left-handed shot, Langway was drafted by theMontreal Canadiensof theNHLin1977and by theBirmingham Bullsof theWHAin the sameyear.He played one season for the Bulls (1977–78) before joining the Canadiens for the1978–79 NHL season.He was 22 years old when he helped the Canadiens win theStanley Cupthat year. He played for Montreal until he was traded to theWashington Capitalsfor the start of the1982–83season.

The Capitals acquired Langway from the Canadiens in a blockbuster trade—going withDoug Jarvis,Craig Laughlin,andBrian Engblomin exchange forRyan WalterandRick Green.That trade not only saved the franchise from moving out of D.C., but also stocked them for an extended string of postseason appearances. After not making the playoffs in their first eight seasons in the league, the Capitals competed in the postseason in every one of the 11 years that Langway was with the team. Following that trade, the Capitals named Langway theircaptain(succeeding the aforementioned Ryan Walter), which he would hold for the next 11 seasons until his NHL retirement.

Langway withNancy Reagan,Pete PeetersandDave Poulinin 1988.

As captain, Langway became known as an accomplished leader who demanded greatness from himself and others, earning the nickname "Secretary of Defense". Many people considered him the franchise's savior, despite not being the sort of player that one would expect to prevent the club from moving. Langway's predecessors as Norris Trophy winners were the dominant defensemen of the 1970s, likeBobby Orr,Larry Robinson,andDenis Potvin,who had put up high scoring numbers. By contrast, Langway was a traditional defender whose shot was likened to a "cool summer breeze", scoring only three goals during one of his best seasons, though he is remembered by Capitals fans for a game–winning goal in overtime against theNew York Rangers'Mike Richterin the 1990 playoffs.Despite his lack of offensive production, his excellence at his position was credited with significantly reducing the Capitals' goals-against average, which enabled them to finally make the playoffs.

Langway won theNorris Trophyas theNHL's top defenseman in both1983and1984.He earned two postseasonAll-Star first teamselections and one Second Team selection as a defenseman—the first American NHL All-Star sinceFrank Brimsekin 1948. Langway finished runner-up toWayne Gretzkyfor theHart Memorial Trophyin 1984. He was also part of the NHL All-Star team that played the Soviet national hockey team inRendez-Vous '87.Upon his retirement from the NHL during the 1992–93 season, Langway was the last active player who won a Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens during their late-70s dynasty. In international hockey, he represented the United States in the1981,1984,and1987 Canada Cupas well as the 1982Ice Hockey World Championshiptournaments.

Coaching career

Langway served as player-coach for theSan Francisco Spidersduring their single season as anIHLteam in 1995–1996. Langway began his career before helmets were mandatory and was the only member of the Spiders who played without a helmet under a league grandfather clause. He played without a helmet even while he was playing for the Washington Capitals and was normally the only player on the ice who was not wearing a helmet.

Langway was also an assistant coach underTom McViewith theAmerican Hockey League'sProvidence Bruinsduring the 1997–98 season. He played in ten games that year to assist with on-ice development, during which time he was not granted an exemption to play without a helmet. Providence finished with a mere 19 victories that season, and Langway did not return the following year after McVie was reassigned to be a scout by the Boston organization.

During the 2003–04 season, Langway coached theRichmond Riverdogsexpansion franchise in theUnited Hockey Leagueto a division championship, and a first-round playoff loss to theElmira Jackals.Team management did not extend Langway's contract after the first season.

Awards and accomplishments

• Stanley Cupchampion –1979
• Norris Trophy:1982–83,1983–84
• NHL All-Star first team:1982–83, 1983–84
• NHL All-Star second team:1984–85
• All-Star Game:1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986
• Canada Cup 1984 All-Star first team

Langway's jersey number (#5) was retired by theWashington Capitalson November 26, 1997, and he was inducted into theUnited States Hockey Hall of Famein 1999. His career was crowned with his election to theHockey Hall of Famein 2002.In 2012, he was inducted into theWorld Hockey Association Hall of Famein the “Legends of the Game” category.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1972–73	Randolph High School	HS-MA		16	20	19	39	—		—	—	—	—
1973–74	Randolph High School	HS-MA		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1974–75	Randolph High School	HS-MA		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1975–76	University of New Hampshire	ECAC		31	3	13	16	10		—	—	—	—	—
1976–77	University of New Hampshire	ECAC		34	10	43	53	52		—	—	—	—	—
1977–78	Hampton Gulls	AHL		30	6	16	22	50		—	—	—	—	—
1977–78	Birmingham Bulls	WHA		52	3	18	21	52		4	0	0	0	9
1978–79	Nova Scotia Voyageurs	AHL		18	6	13	19	29		—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		45	4	3	7	30		8	0	0	0	16
1979–80	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		77	7	29	36	81		10	3	3	6	2
1980–81	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		80	11	34	45	120		3	0	0	0	6
1981–82	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		66	5	34	39	116		5	0	3	3	18
1982–83	Washington Capitals	NHL		80	3	29	32	75		4	0	0	0	0
1983–84	Washington Capitals	NHL		80	9	24	33	61		8	0	5	5	7
1984–85	Washington Capitals	NHL		79	4	22	26	54		5	0	1	1	6
1985–86	Washington Capitals	NHL		71	1	17	18	61		9	1	2	3	6
1986–87	Washington Capitals	NHL		78	2	25	27	53		7	0	1	1	2
1987–88	Washington Capitals	NHL		63	3	13	16	28		6	0	0	0	8
1988–89	Washington Capitals	NHL		76	2	19	21	67		6	0	0	0	6
1989–90	Washington Capitals	NHL		58	0	8	8	39		15	1	4	5	12
1990–91	Washington Capitals	NHL		56	1	7	8	24		11	0	2	2	6
1991–92	Washington Capitals	NHL		64	0	13	13	22		7	0	1	1	2
1992–93	Washington Capitals	NHL		21	0	0	0	20		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Richmond Renegades	ECHL		6	0	0	0	2		9	1	1	2	4
1995–96	San Francisco Spiders	IHL		46	1	5	6	38		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Providence Bruins	AHL		10	0	1	1	6		—	—	—	—	—
WHA totals				52	3	18	21	52		4	0	0	0	9
NHL totals				994	51	278	329	851		104	5	22	27	97

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1981	United States	CC		6	0	1	1	8
1982	United States	WC		6	0	2	2	4
1984	United States	CC		6	1	1	2	8
1987	United States	CC		5	0	1	1	6
Senior totals				23	1	5	6	26

See also

• List of members of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics fromNHL.com,orEliteprospects.com,orHockey-Reference.com,orLegends of Hockey,orThe Internet Hockey Database
• Rod Langway's profile @ Hockeydraftcentral.com