'It's a big challenge': Hometown goalie Stuart Skinner excited for chance to be a fulltime Oiler
Following stops in Lethbridge, Swift Current, Wichita and Bakersfield, Stuart Skinner has rented a home in Edmonton and he's confident he'll stay all year.
The former South Side Athletic Club Lion has a good chance to be the backup goalie for the Edmonton Oilers this season after a likely-career-ending injury to Mike Smith and the departure of Mikko Koskinen.
"I've got one job and that's to stop the puck and that's what I'm gonna do," Skinner, 23, said about blocking out the pressure of playing in his hometown.
"I've gotten a lot of games in the American League and the ECHL and I've kind of worked my way up. It's been a grind and it's taken a lot of hard work."
Skinner is expected to share the net with recent free agent arrival Jack Campbell, who he called an "awesome guy."
A third-round pick in 2017, Skinner has played 14 NHL games with the Oilers over the past two seasons when he was called up because of injuries.
"I've played some good teams, got a few wins under my belt, and just more comfortable in this league," Skinner said, adding this year he feels more "confident" in the NHL.
"I'm fortunate because I've seen Stuart hit every developmental stage along the way to get to this point," head coach Jay Woodcroft said.
"I saw him grow as a goaltender and I saw him grow as a person over that time. It's a credit to all the hardwork that he's put in that he's positioned where he is now."
The Oilers' regular season starts at Rogers Place on Oct. 12 against the Vancouver Canucks.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Why drivers in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada will see a gas price spike, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
How to avoid the trap of becoming 'house poor'
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
It's the biggest election in history. Here's why few Indians in Canada will take part
In the Indian general election that gets underway on Friday, almost a billion people are eligible to vote, but a vast majority of the overseas Indian community in Canada won't be casting a ballot.
McDonald's customers left with 'zero value' collection of free hot drink stickers after company ends program
It took years for Vinnie Deluca to collect more than 400 cards worth of free McDonald's McCafe coffee, a collection that now has "zero value" after the company discontinued the program.
Jury selection in Trump hush money trial faces pivotal stretch as former U.S. president returns to court
Jury selection in the hush money trial of Donald Trump enters a pivotal and potentially final stretch Thursday as lawyers look to round out the panel of New Yorkers that will decide the first-ever criminal case against a former president.
Toxic forever chemicals in drinking water: Is Canada doing enough?
As the United States sets its first national limits on toxic forever chemicals in drinking water, researchers say Canada is lagging when it comes to regulations.
Where did the gold go? Crime expert weighs in on unfolding Pearson airport heist investigation
Almost 7,000 bars of pure gold were stolen from Pearson International Airport exactly one year ago during an elaborate heist, but so far only a tiny fraction of that stolen loot has been found.
Biden scores endorsements from Kennedy family, looking to shore up support against Trump and RFK Jr.
U.S. President Joe Biden will accept endorsements from at least 15 members of the Kennedy political family during a campaign stop in Philadelphia on Thursday as he aims to undermine Donald Trump and marginalize the candidacy of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.