Langkow played for the Portland Winter Hawks in the WHL and recorded three straight 20-win seasons with the club before being drafted by Winnipeg Jets with their 2nd pick, 31st overall, in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. When the Winnipeg franchise relocated on July 1, 1996, he was transferred to the Phoenix Coyotes. During this time he won 63 games over three seasons and was one of the top goaltenders in the AHL while playing for the Springfield Falcons. In 1998 he won the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award as AHL's best goaltender.