Logan Stankoven could be drafted in the first round of the NHL Draft on Friday or in the second round on Saturday (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

2021 NHL DRAFT

Stankoven says he’s received interest from Boston, L.A. and Seattle leading up to NHL Draft

Jul 22, 2021 | 5:14 PM

KAMLOOPS — Macie Stankoven has all the NHL hats lined up for when one of them calls her brother’s name.

The moment it happens will be a dream come true for Logan.

“Definitely just total excitement and almost a sigh of relief,” said Stankoven from his Sahali living room on Thursday, less than 24 hours before the first round of the NHL Draft. “I’ve worked so hard for this since I’ve been younger. It’s something I’ve dreamed of since I’ve been a little kid.”

The first round will be televised on Friday night and the second to seventh round on Saturday.

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The Stankovens will be firmly planted on their living room couch and glued to the coverage. It’s been years in the making after all the hard work by Logan and the whole Stankoven family.

“With kids involved in hockey, it’s not a cheap sport to play — financially, time-wise — it’s been tough at times,” said Logan’s dad Wes Stankoven. “But we’ve had a lot of support. Driving him to the rink is the easiest job and letting him do all the hard work has been the hard part. We’ve always said to him, ‘As long as you put the time and effort in, we’ll support you.'”

Logan started skating when he was three years old and then started playing hockey shortly after at five.

Logan Stankoven started skating and playing hockey at a young age (Image Credit: Wes Stankoven)

He was never the biggest kid — and still isn’t compared to his Western Hockey League foes at 5’8″ and 170 pounds — but he’s always been quick and has used it to his advantage to advance his hockey career. From Kamloops minor hockey to the Thompson Blazers and now the Kamloops Blazers, Logan has defied all odds and will continue to do so with the trajectory he’s on.

“Time has flown for me. I just remember not that long ago playing with the Blazers as a 15-year-old and playing in the tiebreaker game against Kelowna and being able to join them for playoffs,” he said. “Now here I am, having the chance to be drafted, so it’s been pretty cool and I’m just looking forward the whole [draft] process.”

Stankoven says three teams have been particularly interested: Boston, L.A. and expansion Seattle.

“I’ve been interviewed twice by both L.A. and Seattle and they’ve been very generous to me and have expressed just how much interest they have in me. Same with Boston,” said Stankoven.

Secretively, however, he does have a favourite that would be extra special.

“I’d probably say in Pittsburgh,” he said. “Both my favourite teams growing up have been Montreal and Pittsburgh. One of those two teams would be amazing. I don’t think Pittburgh has a first-round pick, but with [Sidney] Crosby being on his last few years in the NHL, you never know how much longer he’s going to be playing, especially with concussions, and the great dynasty they’ve had.”

Pittburgh doesn’t selection until late in the second round at 58th overall.

Among the four teams, Boston and Seattle are the most likely to pick stankoven. The bruins have a late first round pick at 21st overall, which would be high for him given the projections. The Kraken, who pick second overall on Friday, also have an early second-round selection at 35, which is almost right where Stankoven is ranked. The Kings have the 49th overall pick in the second round.