Former Wichita Thunder goaltender Stuart Skinner of the Edmonton Oilers is the Bellevue University ECHL Alumnus of the Month for January.
The 25-year-old went 9-0-0 in nine appearances during the month with a 1.33 goals-against average and a save percentage of .953, helping the Oilers extend their active winning streak to 16 games, which is just one off the all-time NHL record. Skinner allowed two goals or less in each of nine appearances while making at least 25 saves in five of his outings.
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 98 career NHL games with Edmonton where he is 59-29-6 with four shutouts, a 2.65 goals-against average and a save percentage of .912.
There have been 745 players who have played in the NHL after playing in the ECHL including five who have made their debut in 2023-24. The ECHL has had 553 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 489 ECHL players who have played their first game in the last 19 seasons for an average of more than 25 per year.