Brady Skjei

History

2009-10: Brady Skjei scored 11 goals with 19 assists in 30 games as a tenth grader for Lakeville North (MN) High School. He scored a goal and had two assists in a 5-0 win over Lakeville South in the Sectional 1AA final and had North's only goal in a 6-1 loss to eventual AA runner-up Minnetonka. Skjei represented the USA in the 2010 U17 Four Nations Cup and had 2 goals with 3 assists.

2010-11: Skjei played in the US National Team Development Program and represented the USA at the 2011 U17 World Hockey Challenge. He was a co-captain for the U17 NDTP team and skated in all 55 games; scoring 5 goals with 14 assists and 24 penalty minutes. In six games at the WHC he scored 1 goal with 3 assists as the USA finished second. He committed to playing college hockey at the University of Minnesota in 2012-13.

2011-12: Skjei skated for the NDTP U18 team in his second year in Ann Arbor and played for Team USA in the 2012 U18 World Junior Championship. He scored 4 goals with 19 assists and had 36 penalty minutes in 60 games. Skjei had 1 assist and 4 penalty minutes and was a team-leading plus-10 in six games at the U18 WJC as USA won its fourth straight gold medal. Skjei was ranked 19th amongst North American Skaters in Central Scouting's final rankings prior to the 2012 NHL Draft.

 

Talent Analysis

Skjei is a two-way defenseman whose game is stronger on the defensive side than it is on offense.  He plays a sound game in his own end of the ice, although he does not make use of his big frame.  Skjei is a very good skater for a player of his size, but it isn't a skill that he relies on up to this point in his career.  Skjei definitely has some outstanding traits, but he is not yet the complete package.  At this stage, he appears to be a lower pairing defender when he reaches his full potential.

 

Future

Skjei is playing at the University of Minnesota in 2012-13.