January 30, 2008

At the age of 14, Michigan Wolverine defenseman Chad Langlais left his hometown of Spokane, Washington, and moved over 2,000 miles to play high school hockey at Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, where he won the state championship in 2004. Langlais, however, wasn't alone. His twin brother, Chase, decided to make the move, as well. In his own words, Chad talks about what is what like playing hockey with his twin brother and their decision to move across the country to continue the sport they love.

Making Michigan My Home
By Chad Langlais

I started playing hockey at the age of 5 when my dad came home with two sticks - one left and one right - and my twin brother, Chase, and I each grabbed one. We had already been skating for a year before my dad came up with the idea for us to play hockey. My brother and I would spend the next 13 years of our lives playing together on the same teams. We always made the same teams whether it was for our local area or summer league teams - we were never split up. This continued on through high school.

When we turned 14, we had the choice of staying at the bantam level or moving to junior B for the Spokane Braves where our friends would be playing. My brother and I were the youngest on a team that had basically stayed together from mini-mites to bantams. Being the youngest, we were faced with a decision to play at the junior level or find somewhere else to play. I don't think we were quite ready for the jump to juniors since we were only about five feet tall and 100 pounds.

We started applying to a few prep schools out east. It was extremely difficult to leave home at 14 years old but we believed it was the best opportunity for us to further our careers. Ultimately, we decided that Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood was the best fit for us academically and hockey-wise. To my parents, getting an education always came first, hence my decision to come to Michigan.

After four years at Cranbrook I decided I wanted to try and play Division I and was drafted in the USHL to the Lincoln Stars where I played for the next two years. My brother, on the other hand, decided he didn't want to risk jumping around juniors and wanted to attend college, so he went to Lake Forest, a Division III school. It was the first time we would split up from each other. Originally we thought it would be good to be on our own and break apart, and for the most part we were fine, but it was always nice to have someone you knew in a new place.

My career in Lincoln started off a little shaky, I was their second-round pick so they told me they expected a lot from me right off the bat. I think I was a healthy scratch once in the first couple weeks, but after my night off I turned it around. It was a big jump from Michigan high school hockey, but I had a good coach that was patient with me. Before the season started I told my coach what I expected from myself and that I wanted to play at Michigan. It was always a dream of mine to play at Michigan growing up in the state.

At first, moving away from home was very difficult but it gradually became easier and easier. Now, I stay in Michigan for my summers, occasionally going home to Washington. I've come to call my Michigan my second home. It's nice to know that I'll be in Michigan for the next four years. Although I enjoyed Lincoln, the town was not for me. Michigan is home for me, and I couldn't be happier with the program and the team, it's the perfect fit.