Q&A: In conversation with Stuart Skinner's father about cheering on a hometown hero
His son's Stanley Cup journey has been 'stressfully exciting,' says Sam Skinner
It's a momentous day for the Edmonton Oilers, especially the team's Edmonton-born and raised goaltender, Stuart Skinner.
The team is in Florida getting ready for Game 7, which gets underway at 6 p.m. MT. Skinner's performance has been instrumental in helping the Oilers claw its way back from a 3-0 deficit against the Florida Panthers.
The 25-year-old goaltender is the youngest in his family of nine children. (According to the Oilers website, each of their first names start with the letter S.) His father Sam Skinner talked to CBC's Edmonton AM on Monday about his son's performance, the family's passion for hockey and the love they're feeling from fans.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What has it been like for you to watch your son play through this playoff run?
It's been stressfully exciting. Just watching him do his thing, he is very focused, very ready for the next shot. He doesn't get upset. He just focuses. And when I see him doing his little dance on the ice, I know he's in the right space.
How would you describe his performance throughout the series as well?
You know, it's a team effort as he'll tell you too. But I felt very, very proud of him, how he's been working.
As I say, you can't rattle him. He doesn't get upset. You're not going to get him out of his space. He looks determined and excited to see the outcome tonight.
The Oilers have been working with a sports psychologist. Have you heard much about what that's been like?
No, Stuart's pretty closed down during the playoffs. He always has been, even when he played in the WHL and even way back playing minor hockey.
But as far as psychologists, they would be good for therapy for the parents.
How big was hockey for your family?
He started playing hockey seven years old and he was a forward with the little Timbits and he would just go hard out there and be scoring goals.
Our friend John Goode, a very good friend of ours, he was coaching the team at the time. And I went to pick Stuart up at the arena and he came out with a goalie bag. And John was kind of smirking as he walked by me. I say, "What are you doing, Stuart? He said, "They are going to let me play goal."
And I looked at John. He said, "It's OK, it's OK, you know, all the kids get a chance."
But once he got in there, that was it for him. And he just loved it.
It's been a real different journey being a goalie parent.
Did you ever imagine he'd end up in Game 7 of a Stanley Cup final?
You know, just going to the draft was beyond one's comprehension. Out of all those teams that were there, to see Craig MacTavish call for Stuart Skinner. I mean, he didn't even stand up right away, we were all in shock.
Then to have the year he had last year, his rookie year, and then his first year here in the NHL, full year as the starter, it's just been surreal.
We always would watch and root for the Oilers and then when we go now and we see him on the ice, it's like, wow, is this really happening?
What's it like for you to drive around town as well, Sam?
The people are just so kind. I mean, hockey fans are hockey fans. They're very intense because they love the sport. But it's just really exciting right now.
Even my wife and I go to the grocery store and it's hard to get out of there without talking to five, six, seven people.
And we were talking to our neighbour the other day on the other side of us here and she was saying, "You know, I don't mind all those pucks that Stuart shot over in this area in our yard now."
So it's just really good. It's just a lot of love in the city.
What are your expectations for tonight's game?
Just looking for the same focus from Stuart and watching for the same intensity of the team. And I think they just need to realize every time they score, it's still 0-0 and they need the next goal. And just stay focused and let's go get that Cup.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
