| Logan Stankoven | Yale Hockey Academy | CSSHL U16 | R | F | 5’8″ | 170 | Kamloops Blazers | 2018 | Kamloops, BC | 2003 | 2020-2021: A- |
Neutral Zone NHL’s Ian Moran’s comments, May 2021: Logan is an absolute fire hydrant and he doesn’t get knocked down or around. His low center of gravity allows him to protect the puck for extended times while cycling and his puck poise allows him to make highly skilled plays when a larger defender is on his back. His snap shot has a quick unpredictable release which has resulted in goals at every level and I would expect that to continue in professional hockey as well. I really like how he positions himself when battling for loose pucks along the wall because he does not get trapped and he has areal knack for taking his opponents power base or legs away. He’s a leader and that is very important to me and it will be to an NHL General Manager too.
WHL: Kamloops Blazers NHL Prospects, May 2021: One of the more highly touted prospects in Western Canada, Stankoven is an energetic forward with good offensive skill to boot. For Stankoven, everything starts with his effort and skating ability. He may not be very tall, but he is thick, and explosive. His stride can look a little wide, and there might be some untapped potential in his overall speed, but he still plays a very fast game, wins a lot of foot races, and carries the puck with speed and confidence. His explosiveness and edge work are elite. He easily creates separation for himself, and he moves well through the open ice carving up opponents with his quick twitch agility. Defensively he collapses well, and because he has good feet, he can cover a lot of area quickly. He can also be more aggressive because he knows he can recover most of the time without causing any serious scoring chances. He has a heavy stick, and plays hard on guys. He isn’t overtly physical, but in those tight areas on defense he competes hard and wins battles. In the offensive zone, he sticks that butt out and uses his powerful lower body to keep the puck protected and make plays. He is an excellent facilitator. He sends hard accurate passes. He can use both sides of his stick blade to do so, and the pucks still leave with the same zip and accuracy. He also has a very hard shot. He has a quick release, but Stankoven is also intelligent with his shot. He will shoot it off his back foot, or use a defender as a screen. Some times on the rush, he will make little cuts towards the middle of the ice to create shooting lanes and give himself more options at the net. There will be a lot of debate about this player and whether or not he is a first round talent. We think, with his combination of speed and skill, and his power, particularly in his lower half, if he’s still on the board after pick 32, all teams should be very excited about him. Grade: A-
WHL: Kamloops Blazers vs Victoria Royals, April 2021: Started the game like a man on a mission generating multiple Grade “A” opportunities during his first few shifts. One was on a bouncing puck that he settled so quickly and shot through he defender’s legs that it was amazing Victoria’s goaltender was able to get a pad on it. On a similar play later in the first Stankoven settled another bouncing puck in the high slot and ripped a bullet high glove that resulted in what could have been the a Top 10 play of the day. He was a presence on special teams playing the bumper on the Blazers’ power play and taking multiple defensive zone draws on the penalty kill. His goal came from a defensive zone breakout where he corralled a poor pass in his feet turning on the jets to show his breakaway speed and ripped a quick stick five-hole on the breakaway. Overall Stankoven had a positive impact in the Blazers win. His compete level was high from the start and it was very obvious that he was getting ready for the U18 World Championships.
Macs Midget Tournament, March 2019: Stankoven is a lightning bolt on skates and uses his elite speed to create and make plays all over the ice. The smaller forward has great hands and ability to create something out of nothing, using his speed and hands to create space. He can evade pressure in tight and will wait for something to open before he makes a play. A high-end playmaker who can make passes in tight with defenders all over him or off the perimeter. He pushes the pace up ice with the puck and found inside ice at a high rate, where he would take the puck to the net. Off the puck he works hard to get to free pucks along the boards and gets in hard on the forecheck, closing gaps quickly with his high-end speed. An area Stankoven doesn’t fare well in is his play along the boards and puck battles due to his lack of size and strength. Grade: A
WHL: Logan Stankoven Makes Debut with Kamloops Blazers, November 2018: NZ scouts have described Logan Stankoven as “small but ferocious,” his 5’6” frame does not stop him from being an elite playmaker. He has been noted for his speed and skating ability, stick handling skills, hockey IQ, passing, and scoring ability. With an impressive 5 star rating, Logan was Neutral Zone’s #3 ranked WHL Draft prospect last season after a highly successful season with Yale Hockey Academy, one of the leading hockey academies in Western Canada.
We talked to Logan about the day he was drafted, “For me, WHL draft day was a very exciting and busy day. On May 3rd, I was in Philadelphia for the World Selects Invitational Tournament and I was in the middle of playing a [game when] afterwards I found out the awesome news! I was very lucky and thankful to have the Blazers choose me on draft day, especially being a hometown kid.”
Logan laced up his skates for the first time at the age of 3 in his hometown of Kamloops and just over a decade later he would be wearing a Kamloops Blazers jersey. He describes the experience, “Putting on the Blazers jersey for the first time was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had. I put a lot of time and effort into pursuing my goals in hockey and it was so awesome to see it pay off. I know there is still lots of work to be done to make it to the next level and there is always things to improve on.” Logan made his debut in a preseason game against the Prince George Cougars and notched his first point. “It was a 3-on-2 rush for my line, we came across the blueline and my linemate made a great pass onto my tape in the high slot. Luckily it found its way into the back of the net.”
Playing in the WHL at age 15 is unique to the rest of the CHL, but Logan showed a rare ability to make an immediate impace. “There are always adjustments to me made when you are new to the league and team, but I thought I have handled situations well. As you move up, you have to recognize that the play is getting faster and you have to make smart plays at top speed while keeping your head up.”
Logan is not known to give up when things get hard, “I broke my collar bone a few years back in 2013. Then having to come straight into game action playing for Team BC in the Brick Tournament.” He describes his support system that allows him to overcome any challenge he faces. “My parents played a big role in getting me to where I am today. They have always supported me through the good and bad times, and have taught me both how to act on and off the ice.”
Because Logan has signed with the Blazers he is no longer eligible to play in the NCAA, we asked him about his decision making process, “Both routes I believe have their pros and cons but I felt having the chance to play for the Blazers and in the WHL was the best fit possible [for me]. . . My main focus right now is playing the game I love everyday and getting better each and every day. I try and take as much information and listen to people that are trying to help me improve and apply it to my game.”
Logan is off to an impressive start this season in the British Columbia Midget league where he has notched 24 goals and 40 points in only 15 games, but the fans of Kamloops should be overjoyed to cheer on their own a few games this season and for several years ahead. One of the most polished, skilled, creative forwards in his age group across North America.
U14: Rocky Mountain Classic Bantam, November 2017: In our eyes may have been the best forward at this tournament. An explosive first three steps into top speed very quickly, and with great left right agility for beating defenders to either side. Has great hands and can carry the puck and deke at full speed giving blue liners fits. Offensively he has a great shot, getting it away quickly and accurately and with a scorer’s touch. Knows how to shift stick position to shoot through defenders. He is able turn on a dime edge control making him extremely hard to defend. Very unpredictable. When the shot isn’t there he is very unselfish and makes hard passes and creative passes continually to his linemates. He plays every shift with intensity and duplicates his efforts defensively as well. In his end he will hit and separate man from puck, and engage in puck battles with a high compete level. Grade: A+