Jeremy Langlois admitted that there was a time that he wondered if he would ever play hockey again.
The University of Maine’s freshman defenseman tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in March 2024 and had surgery two months later. It was the first long-term injury of his career.
“During the first year, I had some setbacks with pain and stuff and thought maybe that was it for me,” said Langlois, who had been playing for Rouyn-Noranda in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. “At some point, I just had to get through it and say it’s not and work through the process of rehabbing and stuff like that.
“And here I am,” said Langlois, who played his first games in 19 months on Friday and Saturday nights in the Black Bears’ 5-2 and 6-0 sweep of Holy Cross at Alfond Arena.
He was a “little bit nervous” Friday night because hadn’t played in so long.
“It felt good to be out there,” he said.
Langlois didn’t register a point Friday but set up the game-opening goal Saturday with a perfect cross-ice pass to fellow freshman Jaden Lipinski at the far post for an easy finish into a half-empty net.
He had two shots on goal and blocked three shots in the two games and was a plus-two in plus-minus.
Players receive a plus-one if they are on the ice when their team scores an even-strength or shorthanded goal and a minus-one if the opponent scores one.
He thought he played well in the first game and was “better” in the second one.
“I want to build off that and get better every game,” said Langlois, a third round draft pick and 94th overall selection of the Arizona Coyotes (now the Utah Mammoth) in 2022.
It took him a few shifts to get used to the faster pace of the game and how the game is played in the NCAA compared with the major junior leagues.
“You don’t know if you are in game shape until you play a game,” he said.
“He was very steady,” UMaine head coach Ben Barr said. “He looked comfortable out there. I’m sure it was good for him to get out and play in a live game.”
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Langlois played in 253 career games for three teams in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League and registered 44 goals and 131 assists for 175 points. In his last season in the league, he had 11 goals and 39 assists in 61 games for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.
“He’s a skilled kid. He’s a high round draft pick and that doesn’t happen for no reason,” Barr said. “He has to find himself after being out for a long time.
“But he has a lot of ability,” Barr said. “He was pretty solid.”
UMaine senior defenseman Brandon Chabrier thought Langlois has played “real well” so far.
“He was moving his feet really well and he passed the puck really well,” Chabrier said. “That pass he made to [Lipinski] was unreal.”
Chabrier credited Langlois’ ability in both the offensive and defensive ends.
“I was super stoked for him to get back on the ice. His shot is lethal, to say the least, and he is definitely a threat at the point,” Chabrier said. “He can move his feet really well in the offensive zone. And he’s obviously very good in the defensive zone. He is an all-around really good player and we’re happy to have him on the team.”
Senior left wing and co-captain Thomas Freel said it would be hard to come back after missing that much game time, but noted that Langlois was impressive.
“It’s hard to really replicate game situations even in practice, but I thought he did unbelievable,” Freel said. “He’s obviously a really special player and we’re lucky to have him.”
The 22-year-old Langlois, who is from Ste-Brigitte-de-Laval, Quebec, said he is hoping to bring some offense to the team.
“I want to create some plays but I also want to bring some steady defense,” Langlois said. “I want to be an all-around defenseman.”
He watched a game at the Alfond Arena last season but said to be a part of it over the weekend was “really special.”
Several family members were on hand and they enjoyed it, he said.
“They loved the atmosphere,” Langlois said.