May 3, 1957 welcomed Rod Cory Langway into the world in Maag, Taiwan as his father was stationed there in the service. Later, he relocated to Randolph, Massachusetts where Langway grew up.
At age 13, Langway began playing hockey for his high school team, the Randolph Blue Devils. He excelled and in 1973 and 1975, he led his team to the state tournament. He also played the quarterback position in football, but was persuaded to play hockey at the University of New Hampshire.
Langway is 6'3" tall, weighs 218 pounds and shoots left handed. He is said to be the best defenseman to ever play hockey.
He played for eight different teams during his professional career. His record starts in college, two years in National Collegiate Athletic Association, one year in the World Hockey League, and two years in the American Hockey League. Following with 15 years in the National Hockey League, Langway spent two years in the East Coast Hockey League, one year in the International Hockey League, and, again, two years in the American Hockey League. He then spent one year as a player-assistant coach, three years as assistant coach and finished with one year as head coach. Langway has received the James Norris Trophy twice in the 1982-83 and 1983-84 seasons. He was elected in 2002 to the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Langway boosted the Washington Capitals from not making a single playoff in their first eight seasons to competing in the postseason during all eleven seasons that he played for them. Being the captain for a long time, he was a great leader as he demanded excellence from himself and others which branded him the "secretary of defense."
