Langdon raring to go
Kyle Langdon returned to the lineup last week after serving an eight-game suspension. Photo by: OHL IMAGES
The Niagara IceDogs are counting on big things from Kyle Langdon down the stretch.
The 19-year-old Thorold native returned to the lineup last week after spending the previous eight games on the sidelines due to a suspension.
Langdon was immediately slotted into a role on the third line, a position Niagara head coach Billy Burke feels fits Langdon’s game perfectly.
“Coming back from his suspension, I thought he gave us a good boost of what we were missing,” Burke said. “Hopefully he can continue to build on that and can maybe get some confidence and chip in.
“I think we’re going to let him run with that third-line centre role.”
That sounds fine to Langdon.
“I’m pretty excited to get it going and cement my spot wherever I am on the roster and hopefully I can chip in offensively, too,” he said. “Early in the year, we had some other guys and I was up down on the fourth line and I was really just killing penalties a lot.
“When I came back, I slid back on to the third line so it’s been nice getting a little more playing time and playing with some guys that are playing in the offensive zone which is nice.”
Langdon admits his time on the sidelines was tough to swallow.
“It wasn’t too fun so getting back into the lineup was exciting. With the losing streak we were having, I really wanted to get back in,” he said.
Langdon was off to a slow start offensively with just three goals after potting 12 past season, but Burke said Langdon’s contributions go far beyond points.
“He does a ton for us,” Burke said. “He doesn’t always get put into the best offensive situations. We really rely on him to be strong on faceoffs and the PK (penalty kill) and do a good job in more of a shutout type role.
“He’s a gritty, hard-nosed player who cares about his teammates and he does has underrated skills. When he is playing at the top of his game, he is very valuable for us.”
Langdon began his junior career with the Thorold Blackhawks as a 16-year-old before making the IceDogs the next season out of training camp, thanks to his relentless work ethic and willingness to mix it up.
At times, Langdon can cross the line and get undisciplined, but Burke says that is part of the package.
“He needs to play to his identity and play hard,” the rookie coach said. “He just needs to make sure he’s not crossing the line in a big way. If he takes a few minor penalties for playing hard, we’ll do our best to kill them off for him and you live with that. He has to make sure he’s keeps elbows and knees in.
“At this time of year, we can’t afford a suspension for anyone for any length of time. He needs to be aware in the back of his mind the league will be watching him.”
Langdon could come back next season as an overage player, otherwise his IceDogs career will come to an end this season.
“It’s pretty crazy,” he said. “It feels like yesterday I was drafted. I’ve had a great time and I’m excited for what the future holds, but it’s kind of bitter sweet that I’m coming down to the tail end of it.”
The IceDogs, 28-22-6-2-3, are two points up on Oshawa and North Bay and three up on Ottawa for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
The IceDogs have three homes games this week: Thursday versus Hamilton; Friday against Barrie; and, Sunday afternoon against Peterborough.
“If we can focus on having winning weekends in all three weekends (remaining), then we feel we can put ourselves in a pretty good position to maintain fourth place,” Burke said. “We can’t control what the other teams do. We just have to make sure they are the ones chasing us.
“We need to take care of business on our end and treat everyone of these games with a playoff mentality because it’s ramped up now. It’s March now and everyone starts playing for keeps.”
Kyle Langdon
2014-15 Niagara IceDogs OHL 8 0 1 1 0
2015-16 Niagara IceDogs OHL 50 2 2 4 31
2016-17 Niagara IceDogs OHL 60 12 14 26 94
2017-18 Niagara IceDogs OHL 47 3 7 10 72
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