The Western Hockey League’s first ever US Challenge Cup kicked off this weekend in Kent. This 12-team tournament brings to town some of the best bantam teams in the Western United States & Canada. The tournament showcases the elite bantam players to scouts of WHL Teams and also helps introduce the WHL to these elite US bantam players who might not be as familiar with the WHL as Canadian players are already. The hope for the WHL is that some of the US born players would then choose the WHL as they take the next step in their hockey careers.
Naturally, I looked at the data to see how the WHL has been doing at identifying and recruiting elite US hockey players.
2019-20 season has seen the highest percent of US hockey players in the WHL at 9%.
Interestingly, US hockey players are more likely to play for one of the 5 US WHL teams than for one of the Canadian teams.
The Seattle Thunderbirds, host of the US Challenge Cup, are the outlier relative to the other US teams with only 1 US player on their roster, but this should change in the coming years….
Bantam Draft
The WHL Bantam Draft is the main gateway to the WHL. Most of the WHL players are drafted in the Bantam Draft.
Over the last two years, the US WHL teams have drafted the most US players from the WHL Bantam Draft. As the WHL attempts to attract more US players, it will be interesting to see if any of these numbers change more dramatically than they are already trending.
Very fun episode this week, filled with top-notch Sound of Hockey banter.
Andy, celebrating his birthday and in the midst of a five-games-in-five-days “heater,” discusses his recent exhausting shift to life on the road, while John and Darren are chipper as can be.
Just lots of NHL news this week, from another coach firing, to suspensions and non-suspensions, injuries to big-time players, and significant trades. Ah, yes, it’s been quite the week in the hockey world, and the guys break all of it down.
Oh, and they discuss another NHL Seattle team name rumor.
Segments this week include Bad Boys, You Don’t See That Every Day, and Weekly One-Timers.
Very fun episode this week, filled with top-notch Sound of Hockey banter.
Andy, celebrating his birthday and in the midst of a five-games-in-five-days “heater,” discusses his recent exhausting shift to life on the road, while John and Darren are chipper as can be.
Just lots of NHL news this week, from another coach firing, to suspensions and non-suspensions, injuries to big-time players, and significant trades. Ah, yes, it’s been quite the week in the hockey world, and the guys break all of it down.
Oh, and they discuss another NHL Seattle team name rumor.
Segments this week include Bad Boys, You Don’t See That Every Day, and Weekly One-Timers.
In Episode 73, Darren gets really carried away with segues, but fortunately Andy has returned from his brief hiatus to… egg Darren on even more. John, meanwhile, listens on in disgust.
Fun episode this week, nonetheless, as the gang gets back together to break down a couple of pretty big pre-deadline trades (one of which requires significant #Minnutiae). The guys also consider which other big-name players could soon be on the move as the deadline approaches.
Also in this episode, an update on local WHL shenanigans, Vegas moving its new AHL affiliate closer to home, and a pretty solid dose of college hockey talk.
Segments this week include You Don’t See That Every Day, Goalie Gear Corner, and Weekly One-Timers.
It is that time of year when I check in on how attendance is faring across the NHL. This is data, not an indictment of any fan base. It is natural for teams take a hit in attendance with extended periods of playoff droughts that are inevitable for all teams. There are also many other factors that should go into determining overall health of a franchise such as ticket prices, TV ratings, sponsorship deals, and merchandise sales, attendance is just one small part of the picture.
TEAM BY TEAM CHANGE IN AVERAGE ATTENDANCE
In relatively predictable manner, the teams that are on up swing on the ice, are seeing a resurgence in attendance, while teams that have missed the playoffs the last few seasons have seen a drop in attendance.
SELL OUTS
Another metric I like to look at is the % of games that are sold out. As a league, there is no change year over year but it gets more interesting when you look at it on a team by team basis.
Here is one last detailed view of how all the teams are trending season over season.
New York Islanders
For those that don’t know, the New York Islanders have a unique situation where they are splitting their home games between Barclays-Brooklyn and NYCB Live-Nassau Coliseum. For a look at their attendance I put this chart together.
Bobby Skinner didn’t make every hockey team he tried out for and was cut on more than one occasion.
Those setbacks didn’t stop him from pushing forward, however. He would work on his game, improve his fitness, he would persevere. That dedication to the sport eventually paid off as the defenseman made the cut to play for the Seattle Jr. Totems where he would become captain during his second season. That self-belief and drive led to him to Boise State University after his Totems days, to play hockey for the Broncos.
Boise State’s Bobby Skinner lost his life in August of 2019. (Skinner family)
The loss of a child is every parent’s worst nightmare and Skinner’s mother and father, Tricia and Bob Skinner, want to honor their only son’s legacy by giving back to the local Seattle hockey community that Bobby loved so much. The Bobby Skinner Memorial Fund has been created in his memory to provide assistance for kids and families to have easier access to hockey.
“We wanted to do something good out of what happened with this tragedy,” Tricia Skinner says. “Bobby loved hockey, he loved helping people. I kind of came up with the hockey for all idea. Especially for minorities who can’t afford it and kids with single parents who have trouble getting there and costs.
“I want it to be a community, build more of a community and make it more accessible. Make it a fun sport, kind of like soccer. Maybe, make it an after school hockey program so we could pick up kids from school on a bus.”
Thanks to a family connection the fund’s initial gift, and ongoing support, is coming from the Ackerley Foundation.
Christopher and Ted Ackerely are part of the investment and ownership group of NHL Seattle but the desire to be a part of the Bobby Skinner Memorial Fund was inspired by Bobby’s story and journey.
“I think the thing that really struck me was his being so young,” Ted Ackerley says. “I knew he was a hockey player and how well loved he was by his teammates. I didn’t know him personally, but I know that he was having a big impact in Boise.”
Prior to playing at Boise State, Bobby Skinner played for the Seattle Jr. Totems. (Skinner family)
The Fund will start with a balance of $100,000 with the Ackerley’s gifting $25,000 initially. The remaining funds will come from a number of contributors. The hope is that through the initial funding and public donations, it can become a long-standing program to give back to the local community.
A board will be established and planning for initiatives and proposals are still in their early stages.
“To have the opportunity to launch something that comes from such a heartfelt place with the tragic events I think will resonate with people,” Ackerley says. “We’re excited to be part of something that will come from a good place. We think families and kids from across the region will want to support and I think ultimately over the next 10, 20 years people will look back to this spot and say that was a real catalyst to make hockey more accessible and affordable to a lot of kids who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to.”
Helping others and giving back to the community are all traits that describe Bobby Skinner and how he lived his short life.
Born in New Jersey, Skinner got into hockey thanks to his father, Bob, who initially was looking for an outlet for his son’s pent up energy. The family would move to Seattle in 2002 and Skinner would go on to play for both Seattle Junior and SnoKing.
Bobby Skinner played for both Seattle Junior and SnoKing hockey. (Skinner family)
He would eventually move to Idaho and play for the Compete Hockey Academy before playing for the Wenatchee Wolves prior to landing with the Totems.
“(Hockey) was a very important part of his life,” Bob Skinner says. “It was the basis for a lot of friendships. It was the basis for his confidence and personal growth.”
After Skinner’s death, an outpouring of grief and love flowed from the hockey Community. The Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL honored him before an early season game and created a Bobby Skinner Youth Hockey Foundation to fund Idaho youth hockey.
Skinner’s teammates also expressed their grief. Listening and hearing how they describe him, you can understand how he was selected captain with the Totems.
One teammate, Sam Hauser, not only played alongside Skinner, but also billeted with the Skinner family. Hauser penned a heartfelt letter to his lost mate after Skinner’s passing.
“There wasn’t a person that you didn’t strive to make happy,” Hauser wrote. “It was the quality I have always admired most about you. Your never-ending desire to make others feel loved and wanted is something that I didn’t know existed until I met you. Whether it was going to hangout with someone that was having a tough day or showing a new teammate around Seattle, you never felt you were too important to give your time and energy to others.”
Skinner not only loved hockey but he was driven to explore life.
He saved up money by working in the off season to travel to Thailand. He studied Muay Thai kick-boxing and dreamed of opening up a taco stand while there.
“He would have done it, too,” Tricia Skinner says.
Bobby Skinner (right) with his Boise State teammates. (Skinner family)
Skinner’s death is a loss to not only his family and friends but to the Northwest hockey scene as well.
The creation of a memorial fund in his name will be able to give back to the sport that gave him so much. It cements his legacy and honors him by holding the same attributes and characteristics that he did. The hockey community is close-nit and this initiative will help it grow as well as help the Skinners with the loss of their son.
“For me to jump into something like this, it will help me move forward.” Tricia Skinner says. “I can’t even explain the gratitude we have.”
Donations can be made online as well as directly via check sent to the Bobby Skinner Memorial Fund at PO Box 1773 – Woodinville, WA 98072.
As the WHL attempts to attract more US players, it will be interesting to see if any of these numbers change more dramatically than they are already trending.
