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Rod Langway

BIRTHPLACE: Formosa, Taiwan (Raised in Boston, Mass.)

BORN: May 3, 1957

TEAMS/ASSOCIATIONS: Montreal Canadiens, Washington Capitals

 

Bio

Although from the unlikely birthplace of Taiwan, Rod Langway became one of the NHL's premier defenseman.  The six-foot-three, 220 pounder even went on to win the Norris Trophy as the NHL's most outstanding defenseman for both the 1983 and 1984 seasons.

Langway grew up in Randolph, Mass., and attended Randolph High School, where he led the team to a couple of state championship appearances in both 1973 and 1975.  From there he decided to attend the University of New Hampshire, where he starred in both hockey and football.

Drafted by Montreal in the second round of the 1977 NHL Entry Draft, as well as by the WHA's Birmingham Bulls, Langway opted to leave school early and play for the Bulls.  But, after only one season on Birmingham, he made the jump back to the NHL, where he suited up for the Canadiens in 1978.

There, under the guidance of Hall of Famer Larry Robinson, Langway learned the science of being a defenseman.  It didn't take long for the youngster to shine either, as he played a significant role in helping the team win its fourth straight Stanley Cup title that year.

From there he only got better, even winning a pair of Norris Trophies in both 1983 and 1984, as the league's top defenseman, with the Washington Capitals.  The "Stay at Home" defender also went on to captain Team USA at the 1981, 1984 and 1987 Canada Cup tournaments.

All in all, Langway played 15 years in the NHL, earning All-Star honors from 1983-1985, and played in six All-Star games as well.