ANDREW LANGAN ADDED TO SEA DOGS ROSTER

[dogcatcher]

ANDREW LANGAN ADDED TO SEA DOGS ROSTER



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Thursday, October 18, 2007

SAINT JOHN, NB --- Saint John Sea Dogs Head Coach/General Manager Jacques Beaulieu announced today that the team has signed local minor hockey product Andrew Langan, 17, to the team’s Active Roster.

“We’re very happy to be adding Andrew to our roster,” said Beaulieu. “He’s a talented player with a lot of up-side, and we think that having him up with us to practice with the team full-time and potentially see some in-game action will be of tremendous benefit to his long-term development.”

Originally drafted by Saint John in the fifth round (73rd overall) of the 2007 QMJHL Entry Draft, Langan enjoyed a standout season with the Saint John’s Vito’s Midget AAA squad last year, registering 22G-30A-52P in only 35 games played as a rookie. After being disqualified for eligibility with the MJAHL this year by Hockey Canada, Langan returned briefly to the Vito’s, but will now be a full-time member of the Sea Dogs. The addition of the 5’7”, 150 lb. Quispamsis native gives Saint John a total of 24 players on their Active Roster.

Currently ranked third in the QMJHL East with a record of 7-3, the Sea Dogs next hit the ice this coming Saturday, October 20, at 7:00pm when they host the Gatineau Olympiques at Harbour Station. The following afternoon, Saint John will play the Rimouski Oceanic at 4:00pm, again at Harbour Station.

Tickets to this weekend’s matches are available by calling the Harbour Station Box Office at [phone] or by logging onto www.saintjohnseadogs.com.

Pro-rated season tickets, flex packs, and mini-packs are also still available. Information on all ticketing options are available by calling the Sea Dogs Office at (506) 657-DOGS (3647).

[Gallant-Unit(14-0-3)]

Like Richer but Langan was a good choice. was waiting for this

[killer]

Congratulations to Langan............. I still think it would have been best for him to play a year of Junior A but with him being ruled ineligible to play for his NS Junior team and the Beavers roster being set, I think its better to be with the Sea Dogs then play at the AAA level again. I am sure he will get into a few games here and there due to suspensions and injuries alone.

[habh8er]

Congrats to Andrew and all his supporters, probably won't see too much game time but will be better off in the long run being with the Dogs rather than the Vitos again. Be patient and work hard and we will get that local starter everyone would like to see.

[sportsmaniac]

Why cant he play in the MJAHL?

[mrlittlewolf]

Congrats Andrew, Those that know me know that I predicted he would be up here by Xmas. I guess our great start allows this to happen sooner.

[bjindaho]

Hockey Canada says that 16 year olds can't play out of region. Langan's is Hockey NB. He was drafted by Pictou-Weeks (NS). Thus he couldn't play there.

Then, Moncton traded for him, with no intention of carrying him this year and assigned him to the Vitos.

[mrlittlewolf]

Typical Moncton move, they committed to all their locals then took him so Woodstock couldnt

[dogbert]

mrlittlewolf said:

Congrats Andrew, Those that know me know that I predicted he would be up here by Xmas. I guess our great start allows this to happen sooner.

and a certain depardture.

[mrlittlewolf]

always the optomist right EGGBERT!!!

[major]

This is the best for Langans development. By the way he has more upside than Pard.

[sportsmaniac]

bjindaho said:

Hockey Canada says that 16 year olds can't play out of region. Langan's is Hockey NB. He was drafted by Pictou-Weeks (NS). Thus he couldn't play there.

Then, Moncton traded for him, with no intention of carrying him this year and assigned him to the Vitos.

thanks for the explanation.

[dogcatcher]

HITTING CLOSE TO HOME
QMJHL Andrew Langan inks deal with Sea Dogs in time for weekend action

Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Friday October 19th, 2007
Appeared on page B12

SAINT JOHN - The smile on Andrew Langan's face probably won't come off until just after 7 p.m. on Saturday.

That's when the Quispamsis product will step onto the ice for his first Quebec Major Junior Hockey League game with the Saint John Sea Dogs against the Gatineau Olympiques.

"I don't know what to expect," said the 16-year-old. "I'm sure I'll be pretty nervous and excited."

The Sea Dogs signed the rookie forward to the team's practice roster on Thursday. Langan is the third Saint John and area player to suit up for the Sea Dogs. Mike Neil of Saint John and Brett McGinnis of Sussex played during the inaugural season of the franchise.

The past few months have been up and down for Langan, a skilled forward. He was drafted 73rd overall in the fifth-round of the QMJHL draft in June and had a good training camp with the Sea Dogs in August. Langan was designated for assignment by Saint John and packed his bags to go play for the Weeks Crushers in Pictou County, Nova Scotia in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League.

His time as a Crusher was short lived due to a ruling by Hockey Canada. The organization announced that 16-year-old players could not transfer branches which meant Langan could not play with the Pictou County squad.

The Crushers dealt Langan and a seventh-round pick in the 2008 MJAHL draft to the Moncton Beavers in exchange for the rights to Gerrard Grant and a second-round selection. The Beavers had already made commitments to their forwards which meant Langan would return to play for the Saint John Vito's of the New Brunswick/Prince Edward Island Major Midget Hockey League.

He admits all of the movement was unexpected.

"It's kind of been like a roller coaster ride so far," he said.

While disappointed with the ruling from Hockey Canada, Langan said the month and half experience with the Crushers was good for him.

"I think I improved over there, but coming back here and practising with these guys has been really exciting," the Quispamsis native said.

Hockey fans will have several chances to see Langan play this season as he's going to pull double-duty with the Sea Dogs and the Vito's.

In two games with the major midget squad, the speedy forward has two goals and one assist.

A lot of hockey, but Saint John head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu is confident Langan can handle it.

"Obviously we have plans for (Langan) in the years to come and we wanted to make sure he plays and practises with us as well as his midget team," Beaulieu said.

"Being 16 and playing major junior is not an easy task, but hopefully we'll help him develop and prepare for next year."

As for Saturday night, Langan said it's an honour to play in Harbour Station in front of the hometown crowd.

"I think it will be a lot of pressure," he said. "I think I do pretty well under pressure."

COUNTRY TIME: Saturday night will be country night at Harbour Station when the Sea Dogs host the Olympiques at 7 p.m. Country music will be played over the sound system, harness racing driver Gilles Barrieau will be in attendance, prizes will be handed out to the fan dressed 'most country' and a horse will be on the concourse.

[dogbert]

major said:

This is the best for Langans development. By the way he has more upside than Pard.

Agree. But he still needs size and strength. Hopefully this means he'll be in their gym regularly getting some good supervized strength workouts. Andrew is such a positive kid that sitting on the bench most of the year will hardly phase him, especially with all the local support he has.

I always thought he'd be here after Christmas, but the Hooper and Howes trades made me think it would be next season. I think the way young players like Anthony, Despres, and Kirkpatrick have developed so far makes it much less risky too.

[reddogbluedog]

Congrats to Andrew but this really changes the complexion of the fourth line. We had three big strong fast players and they did their job well. Now we throw in Andrew at 140lbs so it will be interesting to see how this works out. I really liked the line of Thomas, Stoddard and Anthony. Maybe JB will mix Andrew in with other lines. In any case it is good to see some home town flavour on the team and we will be pulling for him no matter where he plays.