The University of Maine men’s hockey team has landed a point-producing defenseman and NHL third round draft pick who will be one of several Major Junior players expected to wind up in Orono.
Jeremy Langlois from Ste-Brigitte-de-Laval, Quebec, was a third round pick of the Arizona Coyotes (now the Utah Hockey Club) in 2022. He was the 94th overall selection.
Players from Canada’s three Major Junior leagues will be eligible to play NCAA hockey next season for the first time ever. The three leagues are the Western Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League and the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.
They had previously been considered professionals in the eyes of the NCAA because they received small stipends. That made them ineligible to play college hockey in the United States.
But the advent of name, image and likeness deals that allow college athletes to make money off sponsorships, endorsements and other commercial opportunities has opened the door to professionalism in college sports.
The 21-year-old Langlois played for Rouyn-Noranda in the QMJHL a year ago and had 17 goals and 45 assists for 62 points in 61 games. The previous year, he played for two QMJHL teams, Cape Breton and Quebec, and produced 11 goals and 39 assists in 61 contests.
He is not playing this season because he underwent surgery last year.
According to EliteProspects 2022 NHL draft guide, Langlois can “match attackers off the rush with controlled backward skating, engage them physically in the zone, look for the right option on breakouts and fire from the point with precise wrist shots.”
Langlois attended a UMaine hockey game on his own and decided he wanted to become a Black Bear.
“The atmosphere at the rink was crazy. I’d never seen anything like that before,” said Langlois.
“I had heard so many good things about Maine. And I liked how they played,” added the 6-foot-1, 185-pound Langlois, who prefers a fast-paced, up-tempo style of play that the Black Bears embody.
Langlois came on an official visit in January and met the coaches and players.
“It went really well. I saw the campus and the new things going on in the rink that we will have next fall. I liked everything I saw. I’m looking forward to it, for sure,” said Langlois.
He also liked the proximity to his hometown which is 28 miles north of Quebec City.
It is 407 miles to Orono while Rouyn was an 892-mile trip.
He said the only school closer was Vermont.
“My family is pretty happy about it,” said Langlois.
He considers himself a “puck-moving defenseman” and productive power play contributor whose strengths include his ice vision and ability to make plays.
He feels he has improved defensively, and intends to continue to work on that aspect of his game.
“That’s a key for every defenseman,” he said.
Since he hasn’t been able to play this season, he said he has been watching a lot of hockey and trying to learn things he can put into play at UMaine.
The Utah Hockey Club no longer has rights to Langlois because NHL teams have two years to sign their draft picks out of the three Major Junior leagues and if they don’t, the player becomes an unrestricted free agent.
