'It was an amazing feeling': Stankoven scores in World Juniors debut

Update: The IIHF announced on Wednesday afternoon that due to the ongoing spread of COVID-19 and the Omicron variant, the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship has been cancelled to ensure the health and safety of all participants.
Smiling from ear to ear during a first-intermission interview Tuesday night, Stars prospect Logan Stankoven couldn't hold back his excitement. Moments earlier, he had just scored to put Canada up 3-0 over Austria in the club's second game of the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship - a game Canada would win 11-2.

It marked his World Juniors debut, a dream come true for the kid from Kamloops, British Columbia, who grew up watching the annual tournament. It's a time-honored tradition during the holidays, especially for Canadians, and Stankoven, Dallas' second-round pick (47th overall) from the 2021 NHL Draft, is no different.
In front of 3,862 fans (including friends and family) at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Stankoven showcased his deadly shot as he beat Austrian goaltender Leon Sommer far side after making a nifty deke at the blueline to shed a defender.

"It was an amazing feeling," he said to TSN's Ryan Rishaug during the break in action. "I honestly didn't even know if it went into the net. I just know Macker (Mason McTavish) made a great play through the neutral zone. I was coming with lots of speed. I made one move and thought I should put the puck on net. Next thing you know I kinda blanked and it was in the back of the net. It's a pretty cool feeling. I watched the World Juniors as a kid growing up. It felt pretty nice to get that first goal.
Affectionately described as a "little bowling ball" by McTavish (Anaheim's top pick in the 2021 draft), Stankoven stands 5-foot-7 and weighs 170 pounds. But it's his stocky frame, tenacity and willingness to go into the dirty areas that's won over the hearts of teammates, coaches and fans.
"That's a pretty good way to describe my game," Stankoven said during his intermission interview. "I'm not the biggest guy out there, but I'm not afraid to go into the corners and get dirty. Go to the net and score goals. I'll take them anyway they come."
Stankoven, 18, was having a terrific year with the WHL's Kamloops Blazers before getting called to play for Team Canada with 13 goals and 32 points in 22 games, but admits he was surprised he even got invited to Canada's world junior selection camp in late December.
It's all part of the journey for the likeable forward, who, just five months ago, heard his name called by the Stars with the 47th overall pick in the 2021 draft. After going through development camp, a rookie tournament in Traverse City, Michigan, and main camp in September, Stankoven signed a
three-year, entry-level contract
with the Stars on Sept. 28.
Stankoven will return to Kamloops to continue his season with the Blazers, who currently sit in second place in the Western Conference with 39 points and a 19-8-1 record.
(Photo from IIHF.com)
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Kyle Shohara is the Digital Manager for DallasStars.com and writes about the Stars/NHL. Follow him on Twitter @kyleshohara.