Blazers' Stankoven scores first World Junior goal as Canada defeats Austria

Logan Stankoven of the Kamloops Blazers scored Team Canada’s third goal of the game in Tuesday’s 11-2 victory over Austria at the 2022 World Junior Hockey Championship in Edmonton.

“It was an amazing feeling,” Stankoven, 18, told TSN’s Ryan Rishaug, himself a former Kamloops Blazer, during a live between periods interview on the network.

“I honestly didn’t even know if it went in the net.”

Stankoven praised his linemates for their work on that rush.

“Mac (Mason McTavish) made a great play through the neutral zone there and I was coming with lots of speed and I made one move. I thought I should put the puck on net and, next thing you know, I kind of blinked and it was in the back of the net. It’s a pretty cool feeling. You know, I watched the World Juniors as a kid growing up and it felt pretty nice to get that first goal.”

Stankoven was also part of history as 16-year-old teammate Connor Bedard became the youngest player in World Juniors history to score four goals in one game.

Canada is now 2-0 at the tourney, having also defeated Czechia (Czech Republic) in its opening game on Sunday, 6-3, with Blazers’ goalie Dylan Garand recorded the win in net.

Canada faces Germany on Wednesday. Face-off is at 4 p.m. on TSN.

Another game at the tournament has been cancelled due to positive COVID-19 tests. Finland has been awarded a 1-0 win over Czechia due to at least one positive test among Czechia players. The United States forfeited its Tuesday game to Switzerland for the same reason.