By Chad Klassen

BLAZERS PRESEASON

Stankoven finding chemistry with Franklin, Centazzo early in preseason

Sep 3, 2019 | 5:16 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Blazers went two for two in their preseason openers over the weekend, and they looked good doing it. More importantly, they may have uncovered a lethal combination.

Kamloops’ own Logan Stankoven notched a hat-trick and added two assists playing with Orrin Centazzo and Zane Franklin. The trio combined for 13 points in a 9-1 win over Victoria on Saturday.

“It was pretty cool to play with them. I watched them all last year. They’re a pretty good dynamic duo. They know how to move the puck. They know where each other are all the time on the ice. It was a good night,” said Stankoven.

Franklin added, “That was a good pretty good start. I know we got together a little bit during playoffs last year, but it’s been good just being around each other the whole training camp. We’re starting to really rub off on each other.”

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The 20-year-old Franklin, the team’s leading scorer last season, says the 16-year-old Stankoven isn’t afraid to get his nose dirty and adds another dimension to the line.

“He’s a little pitbull,” Franklin said with a big smile. “He’s a really hard worker. Obviously he’s super skilled, but I think his work ethic really makes a difference. He’s always in the right spot. He thinks the game really good. Overall, he’s a great hockey player.”

New Blazers head coach Shaun Clouston put Stankoven with Franklin and Centazzo after a conversation with GM Matt Bardsley. He liked what he saw from the trio.

“I thought they played a real straight-forward game. They used their speed. They really buzzed in the O-zone. They made it hard for the opponent to play against because their feet were moving all the time,” said Clouston. “And they play with some structure as well. The real highlight goal there. Our ‘D’ pinched up and OC [Centazzo] did a great job protecting in behind him to keep the play alive in the [offensive] zone, and a few seconds later it ended up with his goal.”

Clouston, overall, was excited about the two preseason wins. It wasn’t just the Stankoven-Franklin-Centazzo line, he likes his goaltending with Dylan Garand and Rayce Ramsey and he likes the depth up front and on the back end.

“There’s definitely some younger guys pushing with their play,” he said. “They’re pushing, making a case for themselves to be on the team full-time, so they’re going to have an opportunity this weekend. We’ve got three games in three days, so we’ll see more. But overall, a great start.”

As for the big line, Stankoven hopes he can keep playing with the dynamic cousins from Marwayne, Alberta. “I’d love to stay with them. The other night was a pretty good night. Obviously it’s still preseason, you have to take that into consideration. It’s not regular season, that’s a whole other jump, but for sure I’d love to play with them this year. That’d be pretty cool.”