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Barlage set to don Team Canada jersey

Humboldt’s Logan Barlage will be trading in his Broncos jersey for the maple leaf after it was announced he was one of 66 players selected to represent Team Canada at the 2017 U17 World Hockey Challenge.
Barlage
Humboldt native Logan Barlage knocks an opponent off the puck during Bantam AA action in 2016. Barlage, now in his first season with the Western Hockey League’s Swift Current Broncos was one of 66 players selected to represent Canada at the upcoming U17 World Hockey Challenge. photo by Christopher Lee

Humboldt’s Logan Barlage will be trading in his Broncos jersey for the maple leaf after it was announced he was one of 66 players selected to represent Team Canada at the 2017 U17 World Hockey Challenge.

Barlage noted it was a pretty cool feeling when he found out that he had made the team.  

“Growing up I’d always watched Team Canada and it’s just another step. I’m pretty proud to put on the Team Canada logo, so it’s going to be an exciting experience for me.”

The Nov. 5-11 tournament in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek features three teams from Canada, Red, Black, and White, as well as international teams from the United States, Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, and Sweden.

The U17 tournament features some of the best players under the age of 17 from around the world, has seen 13 of the last 16 number one overall picks in the National Hockey League and saw 242 players who started the year on NHL rosters play in the tournament in the past.

“Just knowing that and knowing how good that everyone else at this tournament is going to be it’s going to be really good for making me a better hockey player and for my development as a player,” noted Barlage.

Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence head scout Brad McEwen notes that Barlage has been a player that has been on their radar for a number of years, as he has played on U16 teams in the past, and really impressed this summer.

“He’s one of the top Saskatchewan players in his age group… his evaluation at the U17 camp this summer, he did real well,” he said.

“He was able to still be productive and be noticeable at that level. So it was really an easy pick for one of the three teams when we got to that process a couple of weeks ago.”

McEwen notes Barlage is one of those players who has nice size, but is also skilled and competitive.

“He’s able to get into space and get into areas, utilizing his size. So it’s a combination of the overall physical package, how he’s able to use it to be a productive player.”

With Barlage embarking on his first year of action in the Western Hockey League with the Swift Current Broncos, being able to play for Team Canada will be a big boost in his development, he says.

“The big thing with Team Canada is the Canadian way and I think that also translates to any other type of hockey and I think it’s going to be really good for me.”

His goal for the tournament is to bring a positive attitude, do what is needed of him, and play his game, which he describes as a full 200 foot game.

“I would just like to play a full game both ways on the ice, try to defend the puck before I go down and try and score. Just a complete centre man with big size and like to work pucks in the corner and bring leadership. I like to lead in the room and talk lots.”

Since the tournament is his first experience playing for Team Canada on the national level, Barlage, as well as the rest of Team Canada are naturally going to be nervous admits McEwen, who says his prior experience should help him.

One of the things Team Canada does to help these players get acclimated faster is keep them playing with players and coaches they spent time with at the Summer Evaluation camp, notes McEwen.

“That’ll certainly help the comfort zone going in and prepare him and his team for a better chance of success.”

Barlage, who will be part of Team Canada White, will be joined by 15 other first round picks in Canadian Hockey League drafts, and says he is looking forward to rejoining some of those players after playing with them in the summer.

“I felt like we were probably the closest team at the camp and (I) just developed some chemistry with those guys…. And same the other way with the team that we joined with, they’re all really good guys and I’m real excited to hang out with them. I think we’re going to have a really good team and we’re going for the gold.”

Heading into the tournament Barlage says he is looking forward to just being at the tournament.

“I made buddies with all those guys at the summer camp and I’m excited to see them again and excited to see what the other teams are like… it’s going to be cool playing against other countries.”

The trip to British Columbia is the first step on the road to future spots on Team Canada, notes McEwen.

“What we do now is we evaluate these 66 players for the next stage, which is the U18 camp in the summer and the Ivan Hlinka tournament and the World Championship next year at 18. So it’s ongoing and it’s a good process for us.”

The tournament gets underway for Barlage and his teammates on Nov. 2 with a pre-tournament game against Russia.

Barlage will then get his tournament underway when he takes on Team Canada Black on Nov. 5, before playing the United States on Nov. 6 and the Czech Republic on Nov. 7.

The teams will then be re-seeded for the quarterfinals on Nov. 9.