WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
I really like the Western League. It’ s really a high-paced game and there are a lot of great players and great guys, too
in training camp, he stuck with the club in his second attempt. This year, he’ s a third line checker with a goal and eight points( at press time) in the first 19 games. However, he’ s also a third-line checker on an extremely good team. At press time, the Warriors were second in the WHL’ s East Division( 11-4-4-0) and were led by captain Brett Howden from Oakbank and three Manitoba defensemen, Josh Brook from Roblin and Ryan Gardiner and Jett Woo from Winnipeg. Langan has fit in to the Warriors’ system seamlessly.“ He had a really good start to the year in 2015,” said Warriors GM Alan Millar.“ He was really close in training camp and he capitalized on the opportunity he got with Swan Valley. We like what he brings in terms of being a responsible, two-way, gritty, hard-working guy. He also, obviously, has the opportunity to chip in offensively. He’ s done everything to earn his spot on this team and we’ re happy for him.” He believes he“ earned his spot,” by doing all the little things well and also, doing exactly what the coaches asked of him.“ I was getting pucks to the net, driving to the net and using my long reach,” he said.“ I had a pretty good line in Swan Valley, so that helped too. I’ m trying to work hard every time on the ice and when
I can get some power play or penalty kill time that’ s really great.” Although it would appear as if he’ s won a full-time job in Moose Jaw, he doesn’ t spend a lot of time worrying about the future. There are things he can control and things he can’ t and he just wants to be sure that the things he can control are being attended to.“ I really like the Western League,” he said.“ It’ s really a high-paced game and there are a lot of great players and great guys, too.“ I just train, work out and play as much hockey as I can. I also try to play golf as much as I can, but that’ s my only diversion from hockey. I’ ll play some baseball at the end of the hockey season, just to get a bit of a break from hockey, but I spend most of the off-season in the gym or on the ice. Last year was fun. This year, I want to take the next step.” It’ s been said,“ Take care of the important things and the important things will take care of you.” That’ s exactly where Tristin Langan finds himself at this stage of his career.“ It’ s a tough league, but a good league,” he said.“ It’ s a much higher level than anything I’ ve been used to before. But I know that if I keep working hard, I’ ll have success. I have a lot of time yet and I’ m learning every day. There is nothing I’ d rather do than play hockey.” n
86 GAME ON 2016- 17 ROSTER DEADLINE EDITION