Stankovens reflect on Stanley Cup celebrations in Las Vegas

The Hurricanes blanked the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final to secure a 4-2 series win.

Stankoven put an exclamation point on an incredible post-season run with an assist and plus-2 rating in the championship-clinching victory.

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“Dreams can come true,” Deana said. “It was unreal. I was just so proud of him and the team. We’re just really happy as a family.”

The game was not without tense moments for Stankoven fans.

Late in the first period, Logan was called for cross-checking. The next two minutes felt like an eternity for his family in the crowd.

“After the game last night, I said, ‘What were you doing?’” Wes said. “He said [Mitch] Marner kind of went down easy.”

Added Deana: “He said he flopped.”

Brandon Bussi, who was outstanding between the pipes for the Hurricanes, bailed out Stankoven on the Vegas man-advantage, which expired early in the second period.

“You don’t want to take a penalty in a game like that,” Wes said. “Vegas has a good power play with high-end guys. I’m glad they didn’t score.”

Stankoven seemed buoyed after his unpunished mistake, using his trademark motor to force a turnover before feeding Jackson Blake, who gave the Canes a 2-0 cushion at 13:31 of the second period.

“I think it put a bit of a fire in his belly,” Wes said of the cross-checking penalty. “Sometimes, he needs that. Something happens in a negative way and he turns it into a positive.”

Carolina scored 66 goals on its run to the Cup. The line of Stankoven, Blake and Taylor Hall combined for 29 of them, including two in Game 6.

Stankoven tallied a team-leading 11 goals, the most scored in a single post-season by a player from Kamloops. Mark Recchi had 10 in 1991.

The 5-foot-8 forward from Kamloops racked up 16 points in 19 playoff games and finished third in Conn Smythe Trophy voting.

Celebration took place in the dressing room and at swanky Catch restaurant at Aria Resort and Casino, where steak, sushi and champagne were served.

Wes and Deana retired to their Sin City hotel quarters at about 1:00 a.m. on Monday, but Logan’s night was just beginning.

“They went to a nightclub here in Las Vegas, all the players, wives and girlfriends,” Wes said.

Added Deana: “He was saying something about taking the Cup into a fountain. I was like, ‘Oh, boy.’”

Kamloops city councillor Mike O’Reilly said on X he is calling for a parade when the Cup comes to the city this summer.

“We want to share it with the community,” Wes said, noting the date of its arrival has not yet been determined. “Our community has been so supportive, all the people back home. Let them have a chance to be part of it, as well. Not too sure what else. Maybe take it on a boat ride or maybe the backyard pool. We have it for 24 hours.”

Stankoven is the first player from Kamloops to hoist the Cup since Mark Recchi accomplished the feat in 2011.

Mark Recchi Way is named after the Kamloopsian who won the Cup three times in his playing career.

Should there be a Stankoven Street?

“That’s up to the city,” Wes said. “It’s something we don’t expect.”

Added Deana: “That’d be nice.”

One Kamloops mother, Ali Giddens, sent a video of her Stankoven-jersey-wearing son, 11-year-old Mason, going berzerk while the Hurricanes raced onto the ice after the final horn sounded Wednesday.

Wes, who has seen the video, was asked about what it means to see his son inspiring the next generation of hockey players in Kamloops.

“It’s pretty cool,” he said. “It means a lot to Logan and us. I’ve heard from a lot of people whose kids are not big players. Go out there, work hard and have fun. Dreams can come true.”

by Marty Hastings

Stankovens reflect on Stanley Cup celebrations in Las Vegas

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