For Tristin Langan, currently of the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors, the opportunity to play for his hometown MJHL team a few years back was a dream come true.
“I grew up watching them ever since I was young, so it was special getting to suit up with them,” said the Swan River product, reflecting on his year-and-a-half stint with the Swan Valley Stampeders from 2014-2016. “It was great getting to play in the league with some of my other good friends from Swan River.”
Langan says the MJHL helped him a ton when it comes to getting to the next level, crediting former Stamps bench boss and current assistant coach and director of player personnel Darren Webster for helping him with his overall development.
“Darren (Webster) was a huge help to me throughout my career and playing with the Stamps and getting coached by him prepared me for the WHL,” said the 20-year-old forward who is currently having a breakout season with the Warriors with 41 goals and 88 points in 54 games (as of Feb. 19).
Langan says he wouldn’t be having this kind of success this year – his third full season in Moose Jaw – if it wasn’t for his teammates, which include current linemates Justin Almeida and Brayden Tracey. The trio have combined for more than 230 points this season in Moose Jaw.
“We’ve just been having fun and working every game trying to get the job done, and so far, it’s been going great for all of us,” said Langan, who was named the WHL player of the week back in November.
Langan and the Warriors currently find themselves in third place and in the thick of things in the WHL’s East Division.
“Our season has been great so far,” he said. “Everyone counted us out after having a record-breaking year last year and losing a lot of our older guys, but we don’t think about it that way. I believe our team can make some noise (come playoff time). Anyone can beat anyone in this league and we’re getting better and better as this year goes on.”
In Langan’s downtime, he likes to hangout with friends, whether it be at the lake in the summer or back home in Swan River. He says he’s interested in law enforcement if a hockey career doesn’t pan out for him.
A minor hockey memory for him would have to be when the atom team he played on in Swan River years ago won provincials.
“A lot of the guys on the team are still good friends of mine,” he concluded.
