As part of a new series on THN, we decided to reflect on a different player every week and give a background as to how they made their mark on the WHL and completed their journey to the pros. Staying in the (NHL) Eastern Conference is Montreal Canadiens up-and-comer Kaiden Guhle, who is finding his footing as a top pairing defenseman on a promising team.
WHL career at a glance:
5 seasons
207 games played
3.22 goals against average
.908 save percentage
Stuart Skinner, now known across the NHL as “Stu” or “the man with a legendary mustache”, was selected 17th overall by the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft. Hailing from Edmonton, Alta. Skinner played his under-18 hockey with the South Side Athletic Club AAA program. Upon getting drafted, Skinner made his way into four games for the Hurricanes in his first taste of the WHL. As most young goalies do, he struggled a little but before getting sent back to his minor hockey club.
Then, he flipped a switch.
Coming into his first full campaign, Skinner made 43 appearances for Lethbridge- posting a 3.69 GAA and a .909 save percentage. While his team did not make the postseason, Skinner was not about to let that deter him from succeeding. In the 2015-16 season, the then-17-year-old posted a career-best 2.73 GAA and a .920 save percentage with three shutouts while maintaining a 27-10-1 record. Things were looking up for Stu.
Plus, he etched himself into WHL history by scoring a goal all by himself:
Having entered the 2016-17 season with a bit of a chip on his shoulder, Skinner’s numbers took a bit of a dip in the regular season but amped up in the playoffs. Now being relied on as the starter, Skinner put up a .916 save percentage en route to a third-round exit courtesy of the Regina Pats.
On January 9, 2018 Lethbridge was looking to shake things up in goal. With Skinner having a down season, the Hurricanes dealt him to the Swift Current Broncos as part of a seven-player move that included a first-round pick, which would later become current Edmonton Oil King Cole Miller. Upon arriving in Swift Current, Skinner would form a formidable tandem alongside now-fellow NHLer Joel Hofer and end up eliminating his former Hurricanes in the 2018 Eastern Conference Final. The Broncos would be sipping Stu all the way to the WHL Championship, as well as a respectable Memorial Cup appearance.
In the summer of 2017, Skinner was drafted 78th overall to his hometown…