Stankoven excited for Western Hockey League debut on Friday night

Oct 16, 2018 | 2:47 PM

KAMLOOPS — He is one of the most highly regarded and talked about Blazers prospects to come along in years. For a couple of reasons.

He’s from Kamloops and he oozes with natural talent.

He’ll be making his Western Hockey League debut on Friday night, when the Blazers host the Swift Current Broncos.

15-year-old Logan Stankoven will make his regular season debut on the same night that a Kamloops and Blazers hockey legend is recognized on Mark Recchi Hockey Hall of Fame night.

“I used to watch him when he played,” says Stankoven, who would have been the ripe old age of eight when Recchi retired in 2011. “I was kind of sad when he retired, but I loved watching him play. I like to pattern my game after different guys, and see what they do to make them successful, and add that to my game.”  

Stankoven played in one pre-season game, scoring a goal and assisting on another in a 5-0 win over Prince George. Since then he’s been a consistent scorer with the Thompson Blazers — 10 goals and 16 points in eight games to lead the B.C. Major Midget League in scoring.

“Playing in midget, and now WHL, there’s a big difference in speed and the size,” says Stankoven. “I’ve just got to play my game, keep my head up, and play hard out there.”

Now because of his age, only 15, Stankoven can only play a maximum of five games in the Western League until his midget season ends.

While his call-up coincides with Mark Recchi night, the call-up for this game was out of necessity more than anything.

“We have a couple of suspensions, and we have a couple of players working through some bumps and bruises,” says head coach Serge Lajoie. “We thought it would be a good opportunity, out of necessity, but also he’s earned the opportunity to come up and play for us, and create some depth, and we’re going to utilize him.”

Lajoie says Stankoven will practice with a consistent set of linemates through the week — today he was centering a line with Carson Denomie and Josh Pillar. With suspensions to Jermaine Loewen and Ryley Appelt and those bumps and bruises, Lajoie says Stankoven will add depth to a lineup that is sorely missing it right now.

“I think that’s a little bit of our challenge right now,” says Lajoie. “I really don’t think it’s from a skill standpoint, it’s from a confidence standpoint.”

Skill and confidence are something Logan Stankoven has played with at every level throughout his minor hockey career. Friday night, he gets his first chance to bring it to the Blazers.

“It’s an honour for sure,” says Stankoven. “It’s been a process since the bantam draft in May. I’m really excited for it, and I’m looking forward to it.”