Broncos’ Stuart Skinner named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Edmonton Oilers prospect Stuart Skinner of the Swift Current Broncos is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the playoff week ending May 13 after posting a 3-1 record including two shutout victories for a goals-against-average of 1.49 and save percentage of .957.
Skinner stopped an impressive 134 shots last week earning national recognition for the third time this post-season backstopping the Broncos to a six-game victory over the Everett Silvertips in the Rogers WHL Championship Series. In Tuesday’s Game 3 he delivered a 37-save performance as part of a 3-2 overtime decision, then recorded his first of two shutouts down the stretch in Wednesday’s Game 4 turning aside 32 shots and earning first star honours in the 1-0 triumph. He made 34 saves in Friday’s Game 5 despite the 6-3 loss, then clinched the title with a 31-save shutout in Sunday’s 3-0 win in Game 6 as the Broncos hoisted the Ed Chynoweth Cup for the first time since 1993. The Broncos will now compete in the 2018 Mastercard Memorial Cup with their first game scheduled for Saturday against the QMJHL champion Acadie-Bathurst Titan.
A 19-year-old from Edmonton, Alta., Skinner finished the 2018 WHL Playoffs with a 16-10 record including six shutouts and league-best marks in goals-against-average and save percentage with sparkling figures of 2.20 and .932 respectively. Originally a first round pick by the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft, Skinner joined the Broncos in January after more than three seasons with Lethbridge. His regular season numbers with the Broncos included a 16-6-1-1 record, two shutouts, a 2.68 goals-against-average, and a .914 save percentage. He was chosen by the Oilers in the third round of the 2017 NHL Draft and signed his entry-level contract with the club on Monday.
Also considered for the award this week was St. Louis Blues prospect Evan Fitzpatrick of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan posting a 3-1 record with 108 saves for a goals-against-average of 2.51 and save percentage of .915 to secure the President Cup title over the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the Rogers QMJHL Championship Series. Detroit Red Wings prospect Kaden Fulcher backstopped the Hamilton Bulldogs to all three wins in final week action with just one overtime loss making a total of 126 saves for a goals-against-average of 3.85 and save percentage of .887 to clinch a Robertson Cup title over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the Rogers OHL Championship Series.
2017-18 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week – Playoffs:
May 7 – May 13: Stuart Skinner (Swift Current Broncos)
Apr. 30 – May 6: Stuart Skinner (Swift Current Broncos)
Apr. 23 – Apr. 29: Evan Fitzpatrick (Acadie-Bathurst Titan)
Apr. 16 – Apr. 22: Émile Samson (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)
Apr. 9 – Apr. 15: Evan Fitzpatrick (Acadie-Bathurst Titan)
Apr. 2 – Apr. 8: Patrick Dea (Tri-City Americans)
Mar. 26 – Apr. 1: Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips)
Mar. 19 – Mar. 25: Stuart Skinner (Swift Current Broncos)
2017-18 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
Mar. 12 – Mar. 18: Patrick Dea (Tri-City Americans)
Mar. 5 – Mar. 11: Etienne Montpetit (Victoriaville Tigres)
Feb. 26 – Mar. 4: Shane Farkas (Portland Winterhawks)
Feb. 19 – Feb. 25: Emanuel Vella (Mississauga Steelheads)
Feb. 12 – Feb. 18: Riley Lamb (Red Deer Rebels)
Feb. 5 – Feb. 11: Brody Willms (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Jan. 29 – Feb. 4: Zachary Bouthillier (Chicoutimi Sagueneens)
Jan. 22 – Jan. 28: Jeremy Helvig (Kingston Frontenacs)
Jan. 15 – Jan. 21: Mario Culina (Kitchener Rangers)
Jan. 8 – Jan. 14: Stuart Skinner (Swift Current Broncos)
Jan. 1 – Jan. 7: Samuel Harvey (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)
Dec. 25 – Dec. 31: James Porter (Kelowna Rockets)
Dec. 11 – Dec. 17: Tristan Bérubé (Gatineau Olympiques)
Dec. 4 – Dec. 10: Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips)
Nov. 27 – Dec. 3: Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips)
Nov. 20 – Nov. 26: Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips)
Nov. 13 – Nov. 19: Anthony Morrone (Victoriaville Tigres)
Nov. 6 – Nov. 12: Justin Fazio (Sarnia Sting)
Oct. 30 – Nov. 5: Cole Kehler (Portland Winterhawks)
Oct. 23 – Oct. 29: Dustin Wolf (Everett Silvertips)
Oct. 16 – Oct. 22: Samuel Harvey (Rouyn-Noranada Huskies)
Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: Logan Flodell (Swift Current Broncos)
Oct. 2 – Oct. 8: Cole Kehler (Portland Winterhawks)
Sept. 25 – Oct. 1: Dereck Baribeau (Quebec Remparts)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 24: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)