Kamloops junior hockey player named WHL Player of the Year, Most Athletic Player

Good things come in pairs – and that couldn’t be more true for Kamloops Blazers junior hockey player Logan Stankoven.

On Wednesday, the Western Hockey League (WHL) announced that Stankoven, 19, had won the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as the league’s player of the year, and the Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy as the most athletic player in the league.

The Four Broncos Memorial Trophy recognizes players with the most outstanding performances during the league’s regular season, and the Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the player who best combines the attributes of talent, desire and passion. sportsmanship, describes the league.

The forward ranked third among league skaters in points during the 2021-22 season, with 104 points in the 59 games he played. He ranked fourth among league skaters in goals and tied for third in game-winning goals.

Stankoven, five-foot-eight, 170 pounds, is the third player in Blazers history to be named league player of the year. He is also the third player in team history to win the Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy.

Whether Stankoven will remain a Blazer or be called pro with the Dallas Stars before 2023 remains to be seen.

Stankoven spoke to host Shelley Joyce on CBC Sunrise Kamloops on the awards – and the support of his family.

The following transcript has been edited for clarity and length.

Congratulations on these awards – what a great honor for you and for the team too.

Obviously, it’s quite humbling to win some WHL awards, and it’s a good feeling for me and for the team.

For me, it’s not a one-man award – my teammates played an important role in it. My coaching staff, my coaches, my friends, my family… they helped me a lot throughout the season, so I can’t thank them enough.

What did your parents say?

They’re just super proud of me. I’m so blessed and lucky to be playing in my hometown and being successful and playing for a great team.

Who would you say guided your journey?

I would probably say both my parents and my dad put so much time and effort into helping me throughout my career. He drove me all over Western Canada and North America to help me pursue my dreams.

They push me every day to be a better player, but also a better person.

What kind of conversations would he have with you in the car?

Just encourage conversations – whether it’s a good game or a bad game, always trying to find ways to improve. It’s just a lot of motivational conversations to help me achieve my goal of being a professional hockey player one day.

What’s the next step for you?

For me, it’s just about focusing on the next jump of playing professional hockey. I will be going to the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in August, and late August or early September will be the start of Dallas Stars training camp. I will prepare for this.

LISTEN | Logan Stankoven on WHL Player of the Year