Logan legacy: Palmer High honors hockey family, retiring the jersey number of a former Moose standout 20 years after his death

It has been 20 years since former Palmer High School hockey standout Jaxon Logan lost his life playing the game he loved.

On Jan. 21, 2005, Logan dove in front of the net to block a shot on goal. The puck hit Logan in the chest, and shortly after, he collapsed.

Logan, a first-year forward for the Brigham Young University IceCats of the American College Hockey Association, died at the age of 18.

Last week, during the final homestand of the 2024-2025 regular season, Palmer High School and the Moose hockey program surprised the Logan family with a special presentation and ceremonial puck drop. Palmer High permanently retired Logan’s jersey number 11, and honored the entire Logan family for their longtime commitment to Palmer High hockey.

“It’s the family number,” Jaxon’s father, Mike, said. “It started with our oldest boy, Dustin, when he was 8 years old.”

Dustin, Jaxon’s older brother, wore No. 11 at PHS. Jaxon followed with the number during his four years with the Palmer High hockey program. After Jaxon, a 2004 PHS graduate and Palmer hockey captain during his senior season, died in 2005, the jersey was retired and nobody wore the number until the next generation of Logans hit the ice.

In recent years, Dustin’s sons and Jaxon’s nephews, Xander and Jacob, both wore the family number on their Moose hockey sweaters. Jacob is a senior this year, and was part of the ceremonial puck drop on Jan. 31.

Prior to the puck drop, the Logan family was welcomed to center ice to be recognized, and was honored for their nearly 30 years committed to Moose hockey. They were also presented with a banner, commemorative shirts and a shadowbox that will hang in the Palmer Moose locker room.

“As a mom, to have him remembered is huge,” Darcy Logan said. “It means so much for them taking the time to do all of this. I’m so very grateful.”

Jaxon Logan has been remembered, among many things, for his tenacious drive on the ice.

“I think Jaxon stood for 115% on the ice all of the time,” Mike Logan said. “He never gave up whether he was behind, ahead. He worked hard.”

Shortly after Jaxon Logan’s death, Logan’s high school hockey coach at Palmer High Brian Fish said Logan was a leader on and off the ice.

"The way I describe him is a true person," Fish said in 2005. "He really was one of those kids on your team who never complained about anything, always worked hard, and was always willing to help out. By his senior year he was a guy we looked at to be a leader. (He) always kept a positive attitude, led by example."

A display case also hangs on the wall of the MTA Events Center, Palmer’s home rink, as a tribute to Jaxon Logan, with his jersey, sticks and photos.

“Good friends of ours put this together, helped us do this,” Mike Logan said.

Contact Frontiersman managing editor Jeremiah Bartz at editor@frontiersman.com.