University of Maine freshman defenseman Jeremy Langlois, who had two goals and six assists in 14 games, will return to the Black Bear lineup for this weekend’s series at Denver after missing five games due to a concussion.
He sustained the concussion in a 3-0 victory at Boston College on Nov. 22. He was taken off the ice on a stretcher and then to a local hospital for evaluation. He was released after CT scans and X-rays were normal.
In addition to his offensive production, Langlois is tied for second on the team in plus-minus at plus-11.
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.
Langlois had been a plus-six in his last four games.
The Black Bears went 3-2 in his absence.
“I’m fully healed. I’m excited to get back,” said Langlois, a third round NHL draft pick (94th overall) of the former Arizona Coyotes, now the Utah Mammoth.
Langlois had practiced with the team before its two-game series against Lindenwood on Dec. 13-14 but didn’t play for precautionary reasons.
He said the week of practice helped him regain his game shape and the Christmas break “really helped the concussion.
“I feel pretty good. I feel pretty confident,” said the 6-foot-1, 185-pound native of Sainte-Brigitte-de-Laval, Quebec.
The 22-year-old Langlois didn’t play hockey last season because he was recovering from knee surgery. His appearance in UMaine’s season-opening 5-2 win over Holy Cross on Oct. 10 was his first game in 19 months.
In 253 career games in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, he amassed 44 goals and 131 assists for 175 points.
In the 2023-24 season while playing for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, he tallied 17 goals and 45 assists in 61 games.
“He is a big piece of our team,” said junior defenseman and assistant captain Frank Djurasevic. “He is my defense partner when he’s healthy, so we’re back on a pair together which feels good. We’re getting our chemistry back a little bit.”
UMaine head coach Ben Barr called Langlois a good player.
“He’s pretty versatile, he can make plays, he has good size, he’s a lefty,” Barr said, referring to Langlois’ left-handed shot.
Djurasevic said Langlois has looked “really good” over the past few days, especially since coming back from the holiday break.
“You can really tell he has put the injury behind him a little bit. It can probably be a scary thing, mentally, to hop back out there and get going,” Djurasevic said. “But he has good jump to his game and Jeremy brings a good 200-foot game for us, defensively and offensively, and he moves pucks well.”
UMaine junior goalie Albin Boija said Langlois is “very skilled and is a huge part of our team” and senior left wing and co-captain Thomas Freel said he’s a special player.
“There’s a reason he is a high draft choice,” Freel said. “He didn’t play at all last year but you wouldn’t have been able to tell it this year. He is finding his stride. He is an important part of our back end.”
Freel also said Langlois is a “great teammate” to have around.
“He’s so caring and so thoughtful. We’re so happy to have him back on the ice with us,” Freel said.
Langlois is looking forward to the series at No. 6 Denver.
“We have three wins in a row and we’re looking to keep it rolling,” Langlois said. “Denver is going to be a tough opponent but we’re ready for it.”