Senior year brings return to form for Langfeld

By Ryan C. Moloney

Daily Sports Writer

It's been two-and-a-half years since that fateful night in Boston, when an unlikely freshman made perhaps Michigan hockey's greatest wrap-around move - good for the national championship-winning goal in overtime.

The goal raised the bar yet again for a proud hockey program, but for Josh Langfeld, personal expectations alone in the wake of "the goal" became excessive. How do you top a moment like that? You can't, at least not all at once and nowadays the fact isn't lost on the tall left winger.

The senior, an after-practice fixture on the Yost ice, does not break from tradition on this day. Dutifully, he sets up shop in the slot opposite an up-to-the-task Kevin O'Malley in goal. "Slap ... slap," the noise of stick meeting ice and the puck bounces off the rafters and empty bleachers.

Ironic, considering Josh Langfeld's goal-scoring success this season - four goals in as many games - is, for the most part, courtesy of his 6-3, 220-pound presence in front of the goal. Coach Red Berenson wants to use Langfeld in a number of spots on the ice, perhaps in light of Langfeld's renewed Midas touch in goal-scoring and Langfeld does not disagree.

"Anytime you can get around the net, get open and get good wood on it - some goalies in this league aren't that good so if you can get the puck quick and get it off you can beat a lot of guys," Langfeld said. "It's something that takes practice."

By his own admission, Langfeld takes practice a little more serious this season, his last go-round in the maize and blue. A sense of urgency seems to envelope all the senior Wolverines - this is the last chance to finish what was started. Though their sophomore and junior campaigns were successful in and of themselves, their potential always seemed a step ahead of their resulting accomplishments.

For Langfeld, that truth is evident.

"We spoiled ourselves winning it our first year," Langfeld said. "Winning it is the best feeling in the world and we need to get that feeling back. I want to do everything I can not to regret taking time for granted here - that goes for the rest of the guys."

Langfeld's uncommon size for college hockey lends him a hefty advantage - he can set up in front of the goal without too much pestering from smaller defensemen, and while he doesn't possess the puck-handling skills of a Mike Cammalleri, his mobility and shot make him a threat from other angles besides the doorstep.

Which is why last season in particular was a bit of an enigma. Though he scored 21 goals his sophomore year, his amount of buries dwindled to nine the year after. Langfeld stays forthright about it - a combination of factors, both in and out of his control, hindered his skills.

"Last year I was injured and I took some shortcuts, I might not have worked as hard," he said. "This year I have to give it everything I've got so that I won't have any regrets."

According to Berenson, the slump might have been just part of a player's growing pains.

"I think every player needs to make a change each year," Berenson said. "He's made a change and obviously it's a change for the better. Typically, seniors realize they don't have the captains of last year's team to lead them. They need to step-up and lead and Langfeld has taken that to heart."

Langfeld's MV trophy at the Johnson-Nissan classic backs up that claim.

"It's expected, it's a risk you take," Langfeld said. "It's like coach says, 'you do it now and you got to do it all the time.'"

A hero his freshman year, that sounds like nothing new.

Saving best for last

Senior Josh Langfeld is looking to make the most of his final year. His fast offensive start (four goals in four games) almost equals his goal output of last season (nine), and has average almost two points game.

Gms G A Pts

Freshman 39 19 17 36

Sophomore 39 21 14 35

Junior 39 9 21 30

Senior 4 4 3 7