Logan Stankoven and Josh Pillar of the Blazers crash the net during a game against the Edmonton Oil Kings last season (Image Credit: Allen Douglas / Kamloops Blazers)

By Chad Klassen

WHL TRANSFERS

Stankoven, other Blazers not opting to play Junior A, team open to transfers

Oct 27, 2020 | 10:42 AM

KAMLOOPS — Logan Stankoven of the Blazers is staying put in Kamloops this winter.

Even with the option of playing in real game action in the B.C. Hockey League, the 17-year-old forward is more than satisfied with his training regiment at home.

“Right now, skating with Matt Kolle and training with Kevin Brechin has been really good so far, so I think having a good setup here and making sure I’m ready when the season does start up is important,” said Stankoven. “I think as of right now, going to play Junior A or Junior B is probably something I’m not really paying too much attention to.”

Last Friday, the Western Hockey League said it would start granting temporary transfers for roster players to join Junior A, Junior B and U-18 teams. The transfers apply through mid-December with Western League training camps set to begin right after Christmas, and the league season beginning January 8.

With Blazer teammates from the Prairies, where ice times may not be as available, Stankoven would understand the desire to be transferred.

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“Yeah definitely. It’s all about the setup and what they have in their hometowns. Lots of guys on our team are from smaller communities and they might not have the opportunities or the ice time that we have here in town,” he said.

Currently, no Blazers have requested a transfer to play Junior A. If there are players wanting game action, it’ll have to be a conversation between the player and GM Matt Bardsley and head coach Shaun Clouston.

“It would be a player-by-player basis,” said Clouston. “Obviously I would be involved in that. Matt Bardsley, our general manager, would make those decisions with the players and parents if it does come up.”

Clouston is open to any transfers if it helps his players get better.

“You want to make sure you’re continuing to improve, and if the players believe that what they’ve got going on with their practices and scrimmages is working for them, then we’ll continue to encourage that,” said Clouston, entering his second season as Blazers bench boss.

“There are some players in different parts of the country that maybe don’t have access to that. If those players believe they need to get to a Junior A team to continue to improve, then we have to listen.”