Goalie Skinner makes WHL history with rare goal as Lethbridge Hurricanes clinch Central title

Stuart Skinner joined some exclusive company Friday night.

The Lethbridge Hurricanes goaltender became the seventh netminder in Western Hockey League history to score a goal.

With the Hurricanes leading 7-3, the Medicine Hat Tigers pulled goaltender Nick Schneider for an extra attacker. That's when Skinner saw an opportunity.

Ryan Vandervlis would add another goal as Lethbridge thumped Medicine Hat 9-3.

“It was funny because before the period I (said) ‘If they pull their goalie, give me the puck,’ ” Skinner told Dale Woodard of the Lethbridge Herald, per Gregg Drinnan. “Surprisingly enough, they dumped it in and I had an open chance. I got it over everyone and somehow it went it. So I’m pretty excited. I definitely felt good when it was in the air and when it went in it was a feeling I can’t really describe right now. It was a really exciting moment. I have shivers going through my whole body, so it’s really cool.”

According to Drinnan, Skinner joins Olaf Kolzig, Chris Osgood, Jeff Calvert, Jason Clague, Jordan McLaughlin and Chris Driedger.

Skinner, 17, finished the regular season with a 27-10-1 record to go along with a 2.73 G.A.A. and a .920 save percentage.

Friday’s win clinched the Central Division crown for Lethbridge, headed to the postseason for the first time since the 2008-09 season. The Hurricanes open the first round of the WHL playoffs at home on Friday against the Regina Pats. Lethbridge dropped all three regular-season meetings with Regina.