Langkow gaining confidence in net for Tigers

By JAMES TUBB on February 4, 2022.

jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb

Beckett Langkow has been picking up steam the last week.

The netminder has played a part in the last three games for the Medicine Hat Tigers, entering in relief twice and picking up a win as a starter once.

Langkow has faced 72 shots in six periods of action, picking up a .930 save percentage in the process. The Vegreville product took over halfway into the second period of the Tigers 6-2 loss to the Edmonton Oil Kings Wednesday night.

He said it felt good coming into the game and stopping 18 shots in the second period.

“It was just one of those nights where I was seeing the puck well and I just felt good in there,” Langkow said. “Before the game I just prepared like I always did and it helped me in there.”

Tigers head coach and general manager Willie Desjardins said he thought Langkow made three or four really big saves and helped keep the game within reach for the Tigers.

“I think he has been good. He had a really good period at the start then had a period where it wasn’t going so good, goaltenders go through that,” Desjardins said. “Hopefully it doesn’t go long but it’s good to see him rebound the last two games he’s played well.”

The 18-year-old has appeared in 17 games this season, picking up three wins in the process. He said it’s been nice getting his confidence back after hitting a rough patch in the campaign.

“It’s huge, the start of the year I was playing really well and I felt really good about my game,” Langkow said. “About the middle part of the year was pretty tough for me so it was pretty good to get back to what I was doing at the start of the year.”

Langkow’s confidence is growing at a time when the Tigers main goaltender, Garin Bjorklund, is hitting his own rough patch.

Bjorklund has been pulled mid-game in four of his last five starts.

Desjardins said it’s a matter of Bjorklund not getting his breaks right now.

Langkow said the duo have a good relationship and support one another through bumps like this.

“I’m always there if he needs to talk to me and he’s always there if I need to talk to him,” Langkow said. “We have a good relationship and that really helps.”

16
-15