Humboldt's Logan Barlage is in the midst of his first full season in the Western Hockey League.

Playing for the Swift Current Broncos, the 16-year-old has found himself on one of the top teams in the WHL through the early portion of the season.

"It's quite a fun place to be, and I really like my teammates and the coaching staff," he said. "It's been really good for me as a player. I have been learning lots and I just really like it down here."

The Broncos began the season winning eight straight games and are currently 9-1-1 with the highest winning percentage across the league.

Last season, Barlage was able to get a taste of what the league would be like, playing in a handful of regular season games before joining the team for playoffs.

He says that getting a preview of the WHL helped him focus in on things he needed to work on, which he admits is everything, but also put in time to get stronger and faster on the ice.

Playing in the WHL at a younger age still brings a learn as you go development for Barlage, to which he says he can feel every day.

"Learning more of the defensive side of the game, and now kind of learning the offensive side too and what you have to do to be able to produce," noted Barlage. "My teammates and the coaching staff have been helping me out a lot, doing extra stuff after practice."

Barlage says he has also been able to absorb knowledge simply from seeing how the team's top players work.

"It's good to see what the other players do at this level. I kind of watch them in practice and know what I need to do to get to their level. It's been really good for me, and I feel like I am getting better as a player."

Swift Current's top line of Tyler Steenbergen, Aleksi Heponiemi and Glenn Gawdin all rank in the top five in points in the WHL, with Steenbergen leading the way in goals with 21 through 11 games.

Barlage has three assists so far on the season and is still looking for his first career goal, to which he thinks isn't too far away.

"I can feel it coming. It will be pretty exciting when it does come."

Also on the horizon for the youngster is a trip to British Columbia. Not with his Broncos teammates, but instead with other Canadians under the age of 17.

Barlage was one of 66 players selected to represent the country at the Under-17 World Challenge, which takes place next month in Dawson Creek and Fort St. John.

"It was a pretty surreal feeling. When I was growing up as a little guy I always watched Team Canada at the World Juniors and all that stuff, and it is another step towards that," Barlage explained of learning the news he was selected. "It's a real honour to put on the Team Canada logo, and I am really excited."

He says it will be his first real glimpse of playing against other countries, and is looking forward to seeing how teams play against Canada.

The 66 players are split into Canada red, white, and black teams, and will have the United States, Russia, Sweden, Finland and Czech Republic also take part.

Barlage will suit up for Canada White, who takes on Russia in a pre-tournament game on November 2.

The eight teams are split into two pools, with Barlage's team meeting Canada Black, United States, and Czech Republic in the round robin.

Teams will be reseeded according to their round robin finish, with the medal round beginning on November 9.