Logan Stankoven embraces his father, Wes, at YKA upon his return to Kamloops after winning the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes/via Jon Keen
After a week-long Stanley Cup celebration, Logan Stankoven arrived bleary-eyed into Kamloops just before midnight Monday.
“We had a lot of fun this past week celebrating,” as Stankoven managed a tired grin through a day of travel weariness.
“Just being able to share the special moment with Raleigh… but excited to be back home with family and friends,” he said in conversation with Radio NL shortly after making his way into the passenger arrivals area at YKA late Monday night.
Stankoven started his day in Raleigh before a stopover in Boston.
It was onto Calgary from there before a late night WestJet flight back to his hometown.
As for a week of partying with the Cup, Stankoven was unabashed in talking about the celebrations, some of which appeared to take on a somewhat rowdy — yet respectful — feel at times.
“I think you have to,” suggested Stankoven of celebrating a Stanley Cup victory. “It’s something you dream of as a kid.”
Stankoven adding that everyone was ‘letting their hair down,’ even some of the older veterans on the Carolina team.
Video of Logan Stankoven’s return to Kamloops, late in the evening on June 22, 2026, following Stanley Cup victory with the Carolina Hurricanes/via Jon Keen
“There’s a lot of videos of us crowd surfing and just celebrating,” mused Stankoven.
Did one moment stand above the rest?
“Definitely the parade,” smiled the 23 year-old recalling the event through the downtown core of Raleigh on Saturday.
“That was unbelievable with the support from Raleigh,” said Stankoven of the roughly 150,000 people who packed the downtown of the North Carolina city on Saturday. “The after-parties and some of the local establishments… it was fun to get out and interact with the fans.”
“I think they had a good time too,” added Stankoven.
While exact dates aren’t known, initial indications suggest the Stanley Cup will find its way into Kamloops in early August as it makes it’s way through the Hurricanes roster and organization.
“I’d like to bring it [the Stanley Cup] to some of the places I grew up and take it to the people that supported me the most,” said Stankoven when asked about what his plans are for his time with hockey’s greatest prize. “I’m sure it’ll make it’s rounds and everyone will get a chance to see it.”
“(I’d like) to do something with the whole City,” added Stankoven, knowing the interest the community has taken in his journey through minor hockey to Stanley Cup champion. “I don’t know exactly what the plan is yet but I’ll talk to my family and see what they want to do too.”
His first priority on the Monday evening – a good night’s sleep.
From there it’s a bit of time to enjoy the start of summer, with Stankoven saying he plans to relax and get on the water at Kamloops Lake as much as he can before he begins his off-season training for the forthcoming season.
