Langlais sticks with Christiansen in switch to Steelers

American Chad Langlais registered a point a game after joining up with the Giants last season following two years spent playing for a number of teams in the East Coast Hockey League and Central Hockey League in North America.

Those four goals and nine assists, allied to impressive all-round displays, were clearly enough for new Steelers chief Christiansen to snap him up on an initial one-year deal with the Steelers.

The early departure of Jim Jorgensen, who was initially signed on a two-year deal by previous coach Ryan Finnerty last summer, left a gap on the Steelers’ blue line which Christiansen feels he has filled with the ideal replacement. There are still two more defenceman to be confirmed.

“With Jim Jorgensen leaving us, I feel Chad is a perfect fit into our D core,” said Christiansen.

“Chad is an extremely talented hockey player. He was outstanding for us last season in Belfast. He skates extremely well and is excellent on the powerplay.

“He has great vision and can make game-changing plays. He scored a couple of highlight reel goals last season.”

Langlais, 26, turned professional in 2011 with Dayton Gems in the CHL after impressing in college hockey at the University of Michigan.

After scoring 12 points in 43 games in Ohio, he made a mid-season switch to the Evansville Icemen. Last season saw him start out at Arizona Sundogs - also in the CHL - before moving to the Philadelphia Flyers’ ECHL affiliate Trenton Titans. Then, after he had come to the attention of Christiansen, he made the move to Northern Ireland.

“I’m confident that Steelers’ fans will be very happy with Langlais,” added Christiansen. “We’ve still got two spaces to fill on our blue line and the work continues to bring in a couple of quality, experienced guys to fill those positions.”