Blazers rookie and Kamloops native Logan Stankoven is the runner-up for the WHL’s Rookie of the Year award for the 2019-20 season, finishing second to the Edmonton Oil Kings’ Dylan Guenther.

Drafted fifth overall in the 2018 WHL draft, Stankoven put up 48 points (29 goals and 19 assists) in 59 games before the season was suspended due to COVID-19. His 29 goals tied the team record for most goals in a season by a 16-year-old, sharing that honour with Blazers legend Rob Brown, who did so in the 1984-85 season.

Among rookies, Stankoven was tied for first in goals and ranked sixth in overall scoring. He also led all Western Conference rookies in goals, with his five game-winning goals tied for second among all rookies. Stankoven also recorded a four goal game on February 15 against the Victoria Royals, one of 12 multi-point games.

Meanwhile Guenther, who is the first Oil King to win the award, was drafted first overall in the 2018 WHL draft.

The Edmonton native had 59 points (26 goals and 33 assists) in 58 games, including eight power-play goals and three game-winning goals. He had 14 multi-point games, including a hat trick against Winnipeg on February 25, one of 14 multi-point efforts throughout the regular season.

Guenther led the Oil Kings in goals, ranked fourth in assists, and was third overall in team scoring. Among rookies, Guenther ranked third in goals, tied for second in assists, and was second in overall scoring. He was one of four WHL rookies to produce at better than a point-per-game pace throughout the regular season.

The last time a Kamloops Blazer won the Jim Piggot Memorial Trophy was during the 2000-01 season, when Scottie Upshall took home the prize.