Logan Stankoven Charity Night will take over Sandman Centre this Saturday, March 11, when the Kamloops Blazers host the Vancouver Giants.
The first 4,000 fans in the building will get a bobblehead of the homegrown Blazers captain and reigning CHL Player of the Year.
Eleven Stankoven jerseys will also be auctioned off with the goal of raising $35,000 for Canadian Blood Services, a charity which the Blazers captain is an ambassador for.
“Stu [Middleton] from Hockey Gives Blood reached out to me back in the day a lot. I was too young at the time to give blood but growing up my grandpa, who has passed, him and my dad would always give blood,” Stankoven said during Wednesday’s Blazers broadcast on Radio NL.
“A big thing that was instilled in me from a young age was always giving back to the community so, once Stu reached out to me and I got involved in the Hockey Gives Blood thing, it just kind of took off from there.”
Speaking on the NL Morning News Friday, Marg Miedema, the Director of Philanthropy with Canadian Blood Services says it is great to see a new generation stepping up.
“Let’s be honest, on a personal level, it’s just extremely heartwarming to see young people step up like Logan and other player ambassadors and throughout the hockey community and youth across the organization and across the country,” she said.
“But Canadian Blood Services depends on really that next generation of donors, whether its blood donors, plasma donors, or stem cell donors.”
Miedema says as regular donors age out that new generation will ensure that people in need can continue to be helped.
“We can’t continue to depend on the base of blood and plasma donors that we have now,” Miedema added.
“We need new, fresh blood, to use a phrase, so we need about 100,000 new blood donors per year and it is really, really important to have people like Logan and the youth across our country to stand up.”
If you can’t donate blood, Miedema says you can always make a cash donation.
At the game Saturday, there will be a shoot-to-win contest, fan engagement at Sandman Centre, and more information on offer from Hockey Gives Blood and Canadian Blood Services representatives. There will also be opportunities for fans to donate towards Stankoven’s goal.
Following the game, there will be an autograph session on the Sandman Centre concourse, giving fans a chance to meet this year’s Memorial Cup hosts.
“It is always good to give back to the fans and the people that support you over the years,” Stankoven added.
“It is going to be a busy night with my bobblehead night and then charity with Hockey Gives Blood and then signatures after the game and stuff but it’ll be a great night of hockey and hopefully we get a win that night as well.”
It’s expected to be another sellout crowd at Sandman Centre. There aren’t many tickets left, but you can buy tickets online here or at the Sandman Centre box office.
– With files from Bill Cowen and Jeff Andreas
Logan Stankoven Bobblehead Night Incoming! 🔥 Available to the first 4000 Fans this Saturday at the Sandman! #whl #blazernation pic.twitter.com/uNsmgusIrr
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) March 9, 2023
