Local product Colby Barlow will make his professional debut in Manitoba

Orillia's Colby Barlow prepares for his first professional hockey game on Saturday.

After finishing his season with the OHL's Owen Sound Attack, Barlow was recently drafted to the AHL's Manitoba Moose, the farm team of the Winnipeg Jets, who drafted Barlow in the first round last summer.

In his third season in the OHL, the offensive captain struggled with a midseason back injury.

“Dealing with the injury was a lesson for me,” Barlow said. “I learned how to be positive and how to come back stronger.”

Barlow, 19, says he's learned a lot this season about his body and how to prepare himself to avoid lingering injuries.

“I've learned a lot about how to activate certain things, so this injury doesn't bother me,” he said. “It's important to learn these things.”

Despite missing 18 games, Barlow has 40 goals and 18 assists this season for the offense.

“If you're doing everything right and growing as a player and as a person and learning every day, you hope the numbers will follow.”

Barlow is proud of his efforts this year, marking his third straight season with at least 30 goals, but he doesn't believe he's reached his full potential.

“I still have a lot of development to do to be a complete, well-rounded player,” he said.

Despite Owen Sound's disappointing first-round playoff series in which they were swept by the Saginaw Spirit in four games, Barlow says he's pleased with the team's ability to play the Moose in the final five games of the regular season.

“I'm excited to learn and adapt to the professional game,” he said. “I'm going to play the game I know and the game that got me here in the first place. It's a big thing for me to work hard, be really good on defense and earn the trust of the coach when I get on the ice.''

The former Monsignor Lee Catholic School student expects a faster game in the AHL.

“It's going to be a jump,” he said. “Players have different maturity levels. There are bigger, faster and stronger grown guys out there.”

With the Moose still playing for a playoff spot, Barlow says his goal is to contribute as much as he can to his new team.

“It's a great opportunity for me to see the professional level,” he said. “I'm going to take some things to work on over the summer and work on my future next year, wherever that may be.”

Like last year, Barlow plans to train this summer with Stanley Cup champion and former NHL star Gary Roberts.

“Gary was absolutely unbelievable to me,” Barlow said. “He has a great team and support staff, and all the coaches are amazing and treat us like professionals.”

Roberts helped Barlow improve his game on and off the ice.

“He taught me more about nutrition,” Barlow said. “You can exercise as much as you want, but if you eat junk food, it won't perform to its full potential.”

Barlow says he is “on the road to development” as he continues to pursue his NHL dream of one day cracking the Winnipeg Jets roster.