The Kamloops Blazers have had to say goodbye to Logan Stankoven for the rest of this season.
The Kamloops native is going into quarantine before suiting up for Team Canada at the U-18 World Championships in Texas that get underway on April 26.
Speaking on the NL Morning News, Blazers Head Coach Shaun Clouston says Stankoven will be missed.
“I’m glad he got a little bit of time here for our team, for himself, for the younger guys to see that effort and dedication and what it can look like for them if they want to be successful moving forward,” Clouston said. “I mean, they can learn lots from Logan.”
Stankoven’s 17-year-old season in the WHL was cut short to just six games because of COVID-19. He made the most of it though with seven goals and ten points. Last year as a rookie, in his 16-year-old season, Stankoven scored 29 goals and was the runner-up for the WHL’s Rookie of the Year award.
“You know [his absence] takes away a lot of team scoring. He’s our top goal scorer. He’s a terrific player with terrific work ethic on the ice, so we’re going to miss all those things,” Clouston added.
Players and staff on Team Canada will travel to Frisco, Texas on April 17 for a four day hotel quarantine before starting a pre-tournament camp on April 21.
Canada is set to play Finland in its only pre-tournament game on April 24. They will open the tournament against Sweden on April 27, and will also take on Latvia, Switzerland and Belarus in preliminary-round action.
The 2021 U18 World Championships is set to run until May 6. Canada last won a gold medal at the tournament in 2013.
Blazers F @LoganStankoven begins his quarantine for @HockeyCanada today for the U-18 World Championship.
WHL season ends 7-3-10 in six games played. He will be missed. #Kamloops
📸 @ADouglasPhotos pic.twitter.com/hhzvVcP5cE— Jon Keen (@JonKeenNLSports) April 12, 2021
