Stankoven hoping for great turnout at Stanley Cup celebration in Kamloops

The City of Kamloops is co-ordinating the event, with help from the Kamloops Blazers, Tourism Kamloops, Downtown Kamloops, the Kamloops and District Chamber of Commerce and Kamloops Sports Council.

Festivities are scheduled to run from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. and include a live interview with Blazers’ play-by-play man Jon Keen, guest speakers and photo opportunities.

Guest speakers include Tim O’Donovan (Kamloops Blazers’ Assistant General Manager), Crosby Dorais (Brock Hockey Academy), Tim Preston (spring coach), Stu Middleton (Hockey Gives Blood), Matt Kolle (Ice Pirates) and Kevin Brechin (trainer).

Everyone in attendance will be pictured in an aerial group photo.

Tickets will be handed out to those interested in a more-exclusive photo with Stankoven. Winning-ticket holders can invite as many as five friends to join them for the picture.

Stankoven will not be signing autographs.

“It’s almost impossible,” said Dusan Magdolen, City of Kamloops cultural services and events manager. “We did the math. Logan’s being really generous with his time. That could literally take all day.”

Stankoven will sign autographs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Aug. 24 at Kamloops Kia.

The former Kamloops Blazers’ captain – a key cog for the Hurricanes on their Cup run – is the first player from the River City to win hockey’s holy grail since Mark Recchi accomplished the feat in 2011.

Recchi brought the Stanley Cup to Kamloops on Aug. 12, 2011, after his Boston Bruins dispatched the Vancouver Canucks in seven games.

Magdolen offered a Sunday-crowd-size estimate of anywhere between a few thousand and 10,000, noting weather and air-quality conditions will impact the number.

“We’re all very proud of him,” Magdolen said. “Getting a huge turnout in the park would be awesome for him and for everyone there.”

Stankoven is expecting the Cup to arrive on Saturday night in time for conviviality with family and friends.

He plans to make a few stops with the hardware on Sunday morning: St. Ann’s Academy, Royal Inland Hospital, TRU Sports Legacy Fund High Performance Training Centre and Kamloops Blazers’ office.

“We’ll get a few photos in some of the places that have meant a lot to me throughout my career,” he said.

There will be a private party on Sunday night at Shark Club.

“When we did have the Cup right after [winning it and] during the celebrations, my name wasn’t on it yet,” Stankoven said. “To see my name on it will be a great realization of the accomplishment. It’ll be a special day for everyone. Hopefully, it’s a great turnout.”

by Marty Hastings

Stankoven hoping for great turnout at Stanley Cup celebration in Kamloops

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