University of Minnesota Athletics
Skjei to Make NHL Debut with Rangers
12/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS (GopherSports.com) - Gopher Hockey alum Brady Skjei is set to make his NHL debut tonight with the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, according to Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault.
The defenseman will become the 109th Gopher Hockey alum to play in the NHL when New York takes on Edmonton at 6 p.m. CT (TV: MSG).
In 27 games this season with the Hartford Wolf Pack (New York's AHL affiliate), Skjei has 11 points (two goals, nine assists) - ranking sixth on the team in scoring.
"(Hartford head coach Ken Gernander has) been very impressed with his overall skating ability, the fact that he competes real hard," Vigneault said. "They see him as a good defensive-type defenseman that has that ability, because of his skating, to be able to jump up into the attack when the opportunity is there.
"He's a young player going through the process…he's playing well and he's going to get his first opportunity tonight."
A native of Lakeville, Minn., Skjei played in 109 career games for the Maroon & Gold with 27 points (eight goals, 19 assists). He helped Minnesota to three-straight regular-season conference titles and three-straight NCAA tournament berths including a national championship appearance in 2014.
Skjei was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention recipient for the second-straight year in 2014-15 after helping Minnesota sweep the Big Ten regular-season championship and Big Ten Men's Ice Hockey Tournament championship - the Gophers' first conference playoff title since 2007. Skjei played in 33 games as a junior with 10 points (one goal, nine assists).
The defenseman was also named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention as a sophomore in 2013-14 after playing in 40 games with 14 points (six goals, eight assists) and 35 blocks - all career highs for the blueliner. Skjei missed just one game in his sophomore season while representing the U.S. at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship in Sweden. The U.S. National Development Team Program product skated in 36 games as a freshman in 2012-13 with three points.
A three-year letter winner for the Gophers and a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Skjei was drafted by the New York Rangers in the first round (28th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
-Pride On Ice-
