Skinner is Bellevue University/ECHL Alumnus of the Month

Former Wichita Thunder goaltender Stuart Skinner of the Edmonton Oilers is the Bellevue University ECHL Alumnus of the Month for March.

The 24-year-old went 10-1-1- in 12 appearances during the month with one shutout, a 2.83 goals-against average and a save percentage of .908. Skinner became the first goaltender in Oilers’ history to record at least 10 wins in a month when he stopped 43 shots in a 2-0 win over Los Angeles on March 30. He allowed two goals or less in five of his appearances in March while making at least 26 saves seven times on his way to being named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month.

Selected by the Oilers in the third round (78th overall) of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Skinner made his pro debut with Wichita during the 2018-19 season, going 15-14-7 in 41 appearances with four shutouts, a 3.16 goals-against average and a save percentage of .903. He went 2-1-0 in an additional three appearances with the Thunder in the 2019-20 season.

Skinner has seen action in 61 career NHL games with Edmonton where he is 33-20-5 with two shutouts, a 2.83 goals-against average and a save percentage of .911.

There have been 739 players who have played in the NHL after playing in the ECHL including 12 who have made their debut in 2022-23. The ECHL has had 547 players reach the NHL since 2002-03 when it changed its focus to become the primary developmental league for the NHL and the AHL. The ECHL had 97 players reach the NHL in its first 10 seasons and 215 in the first 15 years. There have been 483 ECHL players who have played their first game in the last 18 seasons for an average of more than 26 per year.