Skinner was born and raised in Edmonton, and played minor ice hockey at the South Side Athletic Club (SSAC), including overlapping seasons on the SSAC Lions of the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League (AMBHL) with future Edmonton Oilers teammates Tyler Benson (two SSAC seasons) and James Hamblin (one SSAC season).[2]
On March 18, 2016, Skinner scored an empty net goal with the Lethbridge Hurricanes against the Medicine Hat Tigers, making him the only goaltender in franchise history and the seventh in WHL history to do so.[4]
After his selection in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Skinner was later signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers on May 14, 2018.[5]
Entering the final year of his entry-level contract, Skinner remained on the Oilers roster to start the pandemic-delayed 2020–21 season. With an injury to veteran Mike Smith, Skinner served as the Oilers backup to Mikko Koskinen through the first 9 games.[6] He made his NHL debut and first career start on January 31, 2021, against the Ottawa Senators, collecting his first win in an 8–5 victory.[7] Skinner would spend the remainder of the season with the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League (AHL). He would lead all goaltenders in wins with 20, and helped backstop Bakersfield to the Pacific Division Championship.[8]
Skinner would split the 2021–22 season between the AHL and the NHL. On February 14, 2022, Skinner recorded his first NHL shutout against the San Jose Sharks, making 20 saves to win the game 3–0.[9]
During the 2022–23 season, with the departure of Mikko Koskinen and injury to Mike Smith, Skinner was initially expected to be the backup to newly signed goaltender Jack Campbell. Skinner's strong play along with Campbell's struggling performance led Skinner to take over the starter position.[10] On January 19, 2023, the NHL announced Skinner as one of three final players of the Pacific Division voted in the 2023 NHL All-Star Game, along with teammate Leon Draisaitl.[11][12] Skinner ultimately appeared in 50 games in the regular season, recording a 29–14–5 record with a .914 save percentage. He was voted a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy, the NHL's Rookie of the Year award.[13]
On January 23, 2024, during the 2023–24 season, Skinner recorded his 11th consecutive win, beating the franchise record of 10 previously held by Grant Fuhr.[14]
Personal life
Skinner is the youngest of nine siblings, all of whom have first names that begin with the letter "S".[15] He met his wife, Chloe, after a WHL game he played in Lethbridge; they married in June 2020.[15] Their son Beau was born in 2023.[16]
