What started as a childhood passion on Humboldt ice has grown into a full-circle story for Logan Barlage — one of friendship, development, and giving back to the next generation of players. Following a career in minor hockey and five seasons in the Western Hockey League, Barlage is now embarking on his fourth season with the University of Regina Cougars hockey team. He looks back at his time in Humboldt as the perfect launching pad in hockey. “I was super fortunate to grow up playing minor hockey there and developed a lot of my best friends that are still my best friends today.” Barlage pointed out winning the Peewee AA Championship as a lasting memory from his hockey days in Humboldt. “We had a really good team and lots of those guys are still keep in contact,” says Barlage, adding the lifelong relationships built through his minor hockey days will always have a resounding impact. “My best friends are members of those teams and just get to spend every day with them. You go to school with them and then go to the rink and practice with them and you're spending weekends in hotels together,” he explains, “There's lots of time spent with them and lots of lifelong memories and lifelong friends.” With a love of hockey built through the grassroots level in Humboldt, Barlage has given back through his hockey clinics and schools that are offered at the Elgar Petersen Arena at the beginning of the season and the conclusion of the year in April. He feels that Humboldt is a good place for hockey development. “There's lots of really good young players you see coming out of it, younger ages now going up into higher levels but there's just lots of opportunity for kids to be developing and I just wanted to provide a little bit of that and get back as much as I can.” It wasn’t a long wait for Barlage when he was selected in the first round of the 2016 Western Hockey League (WHL) Prospects by the Swift Current Broncos. Even after nearly a decade of the experience, the Humboldt product said it was an exciting experience but noted it wasn’t a culmination in any form. “You have high expectations, and you want to accomplish as much as you can,” he explains, “but I think you can really make your way as a player in any way, even if you're not drafted.” During his first full season in the WHL, Barlage was involved in a trade for the first time as he was involved in a multi-player deal that saw him heading to the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Among the players acquired by Swift Current in the trade was the current starting goalie for the Edmonton Oilers, Stuart Skinner. For Barlage, moving to a different province and changing schools was the biggest adjustment off the ice and vividly recalls the time when he relocated. “I can remember my dad and grandpa driving. down and driving me to Lethbridge and it just all seemed pretty not real at the time I think super grateful for my time in Lethbridge.” As a member of the Hurricanes (2018-22), Barlage would go on to play in 217 games, collecting 147 points (56G-91A), before he was traded to the Medicine Hat Tigers in his final junior season. His achievements included being selected as the WHL Player of the Week in November of 2019 and being named to the Academic All-Canadian on a couple of occasions. Halfway through the 2022-23 season, Barlage joined the Cougars University hockey team. He said being close to home along with the program offered in the Queen City was the perfect fit for him. “I think the school is pretty small, and I really like that I get to know my professors well. I think it was kind of an appealing program to me, just being smaller and more opportunity for me to come and just kind of keep developing.” Playing inside of the Canada West Conference of USPORTS, Barlage says the Canadian University hockey ranks surprised by the competitive level and noted it’s a strong league for players trying to make the next step in the hockey world. “I think as a development side, it's a pretty good league to be in, like, getting you ready for that next level, getting you ready for just bigger, stronger hockey players.” Through the early portion of the 2025-26 season, the Cougars are winless through their first four games. The hockey dream remains alive and well for Barlage. As he winds up his university career, he plans to pursue any potential professional avenues that may soon emerge. But he notes that if his career on the ice doesn’t pan out, he plans to return to Humboldt to work alongside his dad (Michael) and uncle (Johnny) at Barlage Visionary Wealth. Wherever the road in hockey leads him, Barlage won’t forget where he came from and believes there’s a chance for more young players in Humboldt who will be able to move through the hockey ranks. “We're lucky to have such a good program in Humboldt, lucky to have so many kids come and play.” “I just hope to see lots of more development and helping players get to the next level of hockey in Humboldt.” You can listen to Barlage's Interview below.