By Earl Seitz

Blazers hold prospects camp, sign draft pick Stankoven

Jun 4, 2018 | 4:15 PM

KAMLOOPS — Twenty-four players attended the Blazers prospects camp at Brock Arena this weekend.
Mostly bantam draft picks from 2017 and 2018 — 15 and 16 year olds.

The 15’s still another year away in their development — the 16’s looking to make enough of an impact at this falls training camp and make the most to the Blazers for the 2018-19 season.

Matt Bardsley was named the Blazers new general manager last Friday.

This weekend was the first opportunity for Bardsley to see some of the Blazers future.

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 “It’s not an evaluation, it’s an orientation.” says Bardsley.  “And certainly for me being here new — getting to know everybody, getting to know the players, getting familiar with the parents.   Same thing for the players and parents — getting to know the organizaton.  The lay of the land.”

The evaluation will start in August at rookie camp.
It is in this group that the future in the lay of the land will be built for next three to five years
There isn’t a lot of room on the roster for 16 year olds.   Last season the Blazers had only one — Connor Zary.

Heading up the list of 16-year olds coming to training camp in August is Josh Pillar, the teams first pick in the 2017 bantam draft.
Pillar scored 21 goals and 50 points in 44 games with the Prince Albert Mintos in midget hockey last season.

The 2003 or 15 year olds are still another year away from playing, and will play midget hockey next season.
That group includes Logan Stankoven, the Kamloops Minor hockey product who played his final season in bantam scoring 57 goals and 90 points in only 30 games with the Yale Hockey Academy in the Canadian Sports School Hockey League last season.

“When I was with Portland Logan was a guy who was high on everybodies list, including Portland’s.” says Bardsley.  
 “We certainly had seen him quite a bit.   I think he’s a real special player — he’s so consistent in how he plays, everything he does, so I wasn’t surprised when I saw him.”

Today the Blazers signed their first pick, the fifth player taken overall in the 2018 bantam draft.    His parents, Deana and Wes and little sister Macey were on hand for the signing.
Because of his age Logan won’t play until the 2019-20 season.   But he won’t be returning to Yale for his midget year.

“I decided to stay here for my midget year and play for the Thompson Blazers.” says Stankoven.

When a player signs to play in his hometown, it can put him in a fishbowl.

“I think he’ll be fine.” says his father Wes.  “Logan handles stress pretty good.  I always tell him to go out there, have fun and don’t put too much pressure on himself.”

“Just consistency in his game.” says GM Matt Bardsley.  “That’s one thing that’s one of his strengths.  He always plays the same way — I think for a coach you always know what you’re going to get from Logan.   But again it’s just staying focus, the process, don’t skip steps — you gotta make sure you do all the work before you get here.”