B.C. Division, Draft Geek, NHL, NHL Draft, WHL

Three Blazers selected in the 2021 NHL Draft

Written by Kevin Olenick on

 

Three Kamloops Blazers had their childhood dream realized after being selected in the 2021 NHL Draft.

Logan Stankoven was selected by the Dallas Stars in the second round, 47th overall. The hometown Kamloops, B.C. product had ten points (7G,3A) in six games last season for the Blazers. Stankoven had 29 goals, 19 assists for 48 points during the shortened 2019-2020 season. He’s also been invited to Hockey Canada’s Junior Camp from July 28-Aug 4.

Caedan Bankier was selected by the Minnesota Wild in the third round, 86th overall. Bankier had 23 points (11G, 12A) in 22 games last season for the Blazers. He had 20 points (7G,13A) in 55 games during the 2019-2010 season.

Bankier will see one familiar face in Minnesota camp. That is because the Wild selected Josh Pillar in the fourth round,127th overall. Pillar led the Blazers in scoring last season with 29 points (11G,18A). The Blazers’ 2017 first-round pick, 14th overall had 44 points (14 G,30A) in 63 games in 2019-2020. Pillar was passed in the 2020 NHL Draft. The Wild traded their firth and seventh-round pick this year to move up and select Pillar.

This is the tenth straight year that at least one Kamloops Blazer has been selected in the NHL Draft. It is the longest streak in the WHL Western Conference. The Blazers are expected to have six players who were drafted in the NHL. Forward Connor Zary was drafted by the Calgary Flames last season. Goaltender Dylan Garand was drafted by the New York Rangers last season, And defenceman Quinn Schmiemann was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019.

It was not only a proud day for the Kamloops Blazers players today. It was also a proud day for ownership. Blazers co-owner and legend Shane Doan’s son Josh was selected by the only team Shane played for in the NHL. Doan was selected in the second round, 37th overall.