Brett Skinner facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brett Skinner
Skinner with the Sioux Falls Stampede in 2017
Born	(1983-06-28) June 28, 1983 (age 42) Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	New York Islanders Amur Khabarovsk Iserlohn Roosters Tappara Modo Hockey Piráti Chomutov
NHL Draft	68th overall, 2002 Vancouver Canucks
Playing career	2005–2017

Thomas Brett Skinner (born June 28, 1983) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played as a defenceman, which means he was a player who helps protect his team's goal.

Brett played professional hockey for eleven seasons, from 2005 to 2017. He played in over 400 games in the American Hockey League (AHL). He also had short times playing in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and the National Hockey League (NHL). After his playing career, Brett became a coach. He is currently the head coach for the Fargo Force in the United States Hockey League (USHL).

Brett Skinner's Hockey Journey

Starting Out in Hockey

Brett Skinner was chosen by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He was the 68th player picked overall in the third round. Before turning professional, Brett played for several junior teams.

He played for the Trail Smoke Eaters in the BCHL during the 2000–01 season. Then, he joined the Des Moines Buccaneers in the USHL for the 2001–02 season.

College Hockey Success

From 2002 to 2005, Brett played college hockey for the University of Denver. He was a key player for the Denver Pioneers. His team won two NCAA national championships during his time there. This is a huge achievement in college sports! In his final year, 2004–05, he was named an All-American. This means he was recognized as one of the best college players in the country. He was even named team captain for what would have been his senior year.

Turning Professional

Brett signed his first professional contract with the Vancouver Canucks on August 30, 2005. He started his professional career with the Manitoba Moose in the AHL. The Moose was a team connected to the Canucks.

In March 2006, Brett was traded to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. However, he continued to play for the Manitoba Moose until the end of that season.

Playing for Many Teams

During the 2006–07 season, Brett played for three different AHL teams: the Augusta Lynx, Portland Pirates, and Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights. In September 2007, he was traded again, this time to the Boston Bruins.

He had a great season with the Providence Bruins in 2007–08. He scored 47 points in 68 games. He was also chosen to play in the AHL All-Star game, which is a special honor.

Making it to the NHL

On July 3, 2008, Brett signed a contract with the New York Islanders. He started the 2008–09 season with their AHL team, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. When some players on the Islanders got injured, Brett was called up to the main team. He made his NHL debut on October 27, 2008, against the New York Rangers. He played 11 games in the NHL before returning to the Sound Tigers.

Later that season, he was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers. He then played for their AHL team, the Chicago Wolves.

More AHL and Overseas Play

In July 2009, Brett signed with the Colorado Avalanche. He played for their AHL team, the Lake Erie Monsters, during the 2009–10 season. He scored 28 points in 73 games. He was called up to the Avalanche once, but he didn't play in a game for them.

After that, Brett decided to play hockey in other countries. In August 2010, he signed with Amur Khabarovsk in Russia, which plays in the KHL.

The 2011–12 season was a busy one for Brett. He played for three different teams in three different countries! He played for the Iserlohn Roosters in Germany, Tappara in Finland, and Modo Hockey in Sweden.

In 2012, Brett returned to North America. He signed with the Allen Americans in the Central Hockey League. He was playing very well, leading all defencemen in scoring with 37 points in 28 games. Because of his strong play, he was loaned to the Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL. He later signed a full contract with them.

In September 2014, Brett went back overseas. He signed with Piráti Chomutov in the Czech Republic. He played there for several seasons before ending his playing career in 2017.

Coaching Career

After retiring as a player, Brett Skinner became a coach. He served as an assistant coach for five seasons with the Sioux Falls Stampede in the USHL. He then became the head coach of the Minnesota Wilderness in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) for one season. Currently, he is the head coach of the Fargo Force in the USHL.

Awards and Achievements

Brett Skinner received several awards during his college and professional career: