Jack Skille

{{Short description|American ice hockey player (born 1987)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| image = Jack_Skille_-_Columbus_Blue_Jackets_2014.jpg

| image_size = 230px

| caption = Skille with the Columbus Blue Jackets in November 2014

| position = Right wing

| shoots = Right

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 1

| weight_lb = 216

| played_for = Chicago Blackhawks
Florida Panthers
Rosenborg IHK
Columbus Blue Jackets
Colorado Avalanche
Vancouver Canucks
Dinamo Minsk
Genève-Servette HC
Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers
EC Red Bull Salzburg

| ntl_team = USA

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|5|19}}

| birth_place = Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.

| draft = 7th overall

| draft_year = 2005

| draft_team = Chicago Blackhawks

| career_start = 2007

| career_end = 2021

}}

Jack Skille (born May 19, 1987) is an American former professional ice hockey right winger. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Chicago Blackhawks, Florida Panthers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Colorado Avalanche, and the Vancouver Canucks.

Playing career

=Amateur=

Image:Skille scores badedit.jpg.|200px]]

As a highly regarded forward prospect, Skille was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks with the seventh overall pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft out of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program. Skille was the third in the group of eight American-born players that were selected in the first round, surpassing the previous record of seven Americans selected in the first round in both 1986 and 2003.

In his freshman campaign at the University of Wisconsin–Madison for the Badgers men's ice hockey team, he made an immediate impact, leading all Badger freshmen in scoring with 12 goals and seven assists for 19 points. He also finished the season as the eighth-leading point-scorer for the team. Skille's goal 11:13 into the third overtime propelled the top-seeded Badgers past Cornell University 1–0 on March 26, 2006, in the NCAA Midwest Regional Final at the Resch Center, and into the team's first Frozen Four since 1992.{{cite web|url=http://www.insidecollegehockey.com/9NCAA/2006/midwest2_0427.htm |title=Fourth on the Line Chart, Number One in Your Hearts |access-date=2008-02-01 |last=Eidelbes |first=Mike |date=2006-03-26 |publisher=Inside College Hockey |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117030244/http://www.insidecollegehockey.com/9NCAA/2006/midwest2_0427.htm |archive-date=2008-01-17 |url-status=dead }}

In his sophomore year, Skille suffered an injury that made him sit out a good portion of the season. After the Badgers failed to qualify for the 2007 NCAA tournament, Skille signed with the Norfolk Admirals, the Chicago Blackhawks' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate.

=Professional=

File:Jackskille.jpg in November 2010.|200px]]

After signing with the Blackhawks to a three-year, entry-level contract, Skille was assigned to the team's AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs.

Skille made his NHL debut against the Los Angeles Kings on December 30, 2007. He was brought up from the IceHogs to cover for an injured player, and later scored his first career NHL goal and assist on January 8, 2008, against Cristobal Huet of the Montreal Canadiens. Skille was later selected to represent Rockford at the 2010 AHL All-Star Game.

Prior to signing with the Blackhawks for the 2010–11 season, Skille appeared in 30 games with the Blackhawks over three seasons (2007 to 2010), collecting eight points (five goals and three assists) and five penalty minutes, including two points (one goal and one assist ) in six regular season games with Chicago during the team's 2009–10 Stanley Cup-winning campaign. Skille received a ring from the Blackhawks but his name was not included on the Stanley Cup and wasn't given a personal day with the Cup over the off-season.

During his first full season with the Blackhawks, on February 9, 2011, Skille was traded, along with Hugh Jessiman and David Pacan, to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Michael Frolík and Alexander Salák.{{cite web | url = http://panthers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=552202 | title = Panthers acquire trio from Chicago | publisher = Florida Panthers | date = 2011-02-09 | access-date = 2011-02-09 | archive-date = 2011-07-14 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110714180447/http://panthers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=552202 | url-status = live }}

As a result of the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Skille signed with the GET-ligaen side Rosenborg of Norway to play until the end of the lockout. Skille did not receive any wages from Rosenborg, and was the first NHL player to play in the Norwegian league during the lockout.{{cite news|url=http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/nrk_trondelag/1.8354385 |title=Jack Skille fra NHL til Rosenborg |last=Lillealtern |first=Randi |publisher=Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation |date=11 October 2012 |access-date=11 October 2012 |archive-date=14 October 2012 |language=no |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014022256/http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/nrk_trondelag/1.8354385 |url-status=live }}

On July 6, 2013, Skille was signed as a free agent by the Columbus Blue Jackets to a one-year, two-way contract.{{cite web | url = https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=427150 | title = Blue Jackets sign Skille to two-way contract | publisher = The Sports Network | date = 2013-07-06 | access-date = 2013-07-06 | archive-date = 2013-07-09 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130709000634/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=427150 | url-status = live }} During a stretch with the Blue Jackets, he scored four goals in seven games played at the time.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}

On July 1, 2014, Skille was again on the move, signing as a free agent on a one-year, two-way contract with the New York Islanders.{{cite web | url = http://islanders.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=725059 | title = Islanders sign three to two-way deals | publisher = National Hockey League | date = 2014-07-01 | access-date = 2014-07-01 | archive-date = 2014-07-07 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140707141902/http://islanders.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=725059 | url-status = live }} However, Skille returned to the Blue Jackets at the beginning of the 2014–15 season, on October 5, 2014, after being claimed off waivers.{{cite web | url = http://bluejackets.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=733068 | title = Blue Jackets claim forward Jack Skille off waivers | publisher = Columbus Blue Jackets | date = 2014-10-05 | access-date = 2014-10-05 | archive-date = 2014-10-06 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141006100253/http://bluejackets.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=733068 | url-status = live }} As a depth forward in his second season with the Blue Jackets, Skille appeared in 45 games scoring 6 goals.

As an unrestricted free agent, Skille left the Blue Jackets for a second successive season, however was unable to secure a contract in the off-season. On September 16, 2015, Skille signed a professional try-out contract to attend the 2015 training camp of the Colorado Avalanche.{{cite web | url = http://avalanche.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=779347 | title = Meszaros, Skille sign professional try-out contracts | publisher = Colorado Avalanche | date = 2015-09-16 | access-date = 2015-09-16 | archive-date = 2015-09-29 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150929150132/http://avalanche.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=779347 | url-status = live }} On October 6, 2015, after impressing in depth position in the pre-season the Avalanche announced they had signed Skille to a one-year, two-way contract.{{cite web | url = http://avalanche.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=781915 | title = Avalanche signs Jack Skille | publisher = Colorado Avalanche | date = 2015-10-06 | access-date = 2015-10-06 | archive-date = 2015-10-07 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151007090905/http://avalanche.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=781915 | url-status = live }} In a fourth line role, Skille remained with the Avalanche for the duration of the 2015–16 season, appearing in 74 games and registering 8 goals for 14 points.

Over the following off-season, Skille agreed to attend the Vancouver Canucks training camp, as a free agent, on a professional try-out basis on September 19, 2016.{{cite web | url = http://canucks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=892885 | title = Skille signed to PTO contract | publisher = Vancouver Canucks | date = 2016-09-19 | access-date = 2016-09-19 | archive-date = 2016-09-20 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160920132823/http://canucks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=892885 | url-status = live }} On October 11, 2016, the Vancouver Canucks announced that Skille had made it into the team's 23-man opening roster.{{cite web | url = https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/785921639032557568 | title = @JackSkille remains with the #Canucks and will be signed, according to Benning. | publisher = Vancouver Canucks | date = 2016-10-11 | access-date = 2016-10-11 | archive-date = 2017-05-31 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170531213401/https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/785921639032557568 | url-status = live }} On October 13, 2016, Skille was awarded a one-year, $700,000 contract with the Vancouver Canucks.{{cite web|title=Canucks Sign Jack Skille to One-Year Contract|url=https://www.nhl.com/canucks/news/skille-signs/c-282619734|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 27, 2018|date=October 13, 2013|archive-date=June 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620153311/https://www.nhl.com/canucks/news/skille-signs/c-282619734|url-status=live}}

Following the 2017–18 season, having opted to play abroad in the Kontinental Hockey League with Belarusian club, HC Dinamo Minsk, Skille returned to North America as a free agent in the summer. Approaching the 2018–19 season, Skille accepted a professional try-out contract to attend the Ottawa Senators training camp on September 12, 2018.{{cite web | url = https://www.nhl.com/senators/news/senators-announce-2018-19-training-camp-roster/c-300069270 | title = Senators announce 2018-19 training camp roster | publisher = Ottawa Senators | date = 2018-09-12 | access-date = 2018-09-12 | archive-date = 2018-09-13 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180913150317/https://www.nhl.com/senators/news/senators-announce-2018-19-training-camp-roster/c-300069270 | url-status = live }} He was released from his professional try-out contract on September 23, 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/jack-skille-released-from-pto/|title=Jack Skille: Released from PTO|work=CBSSports.com|access-date=2018-09-24|language=en|archive-date=2018-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924110057/https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/jack-skille-released-from-pto/|url-status=live}}

File:Jack Skille 2012-03-09.JPG.|200px]]

On October 1, 2018, Skille signed a one-year contract worth CHF 650,000 with Genève-Servette HC of the National League as a replacement for injured Lance Bouma.{{cite web | url = https://www.swisshockeynews.ch/index.php/shn/11-swiss-ice-hockey/nla/12568-forward-jack-skille-has-agreed-to-terms-with-a-swiss-team | title = Forward Jack Skille has agreed to terms with Genève-Servette HC | website = www.swisshockeynews.ch | date = 2018-10-01 | access-date = 2018-10-01 | archive-date = 2018-10-01 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181001182402/https://www.swisshockeynews.ch/index.php/shn/11-swiss-ice-hockey/nla/12568-forward-jack-skille-has-agreed-to-terms-with-a-swiss-team | url-status = live }} Skille played 23 regular season games (10 points) and only appeared in 2 of the team's 6 playoffs games, failing to score a single point. He was not offered a contract extension, becoming a free agent.

International play

Prior to joining the Badgers was a member of the USA Hockey-sponsored National Development Team. He won a gold medal at the 2005 IIHF World U18 Championships in the Czech Republic collecting a goals and three assists in six games at the championship. Skille collected 24 goals, 31 assists and 55 points in 54 games for the U.S. National Under-18 Team during 2004–05 and was whistled for 76 penalty minutes during the season. In international play as a NDTP player, Skille had tournament-best seven points to lead the Americans to first place at the Four Nations Cup in Ann Arbor, Michigan and led tournament with eight points as U.S. team placed first at Five Nations Tournament in Tjörn, Sweden.

He split the 2003–04 season with the U.S. Under-17 Team and U.S. Under-18 Team, playing in 61 games total, posted 25 goals, 19 assists and 44 points to go along with 61 penalty minutes. He also had a goal and an assist to help U.S. Under-18 Team to silver at 2004 IIHF World U18 Championships in Minsk, Belarus. Prior to him joining the US Development Team, Skille led the Verona Area Wildcats to two WIAA State Hockey Tournament appearances. He had a total of 99 points in the two years with Verona Area.

Personal life

Skille is the son of Lee and Carrie Skille. His father Lee skated at Wisconsin in the mid-1970s, served as the head hockey coach at Century High School in Bismarck, ND and head hockey coach and athletic director at Madison West High School.{{cite web |title=Los Angeles Kings Game Notes |url=http://kings.nhl.com/v2/ext/Game%20Notes/10-22%20vs%20VAN.pdf |website=NHL.com |access-date=May 30, 2018 |quote=Father Lee skated two seasons at Wisconsin, served as the head hockey coach at Century High School in Bismarck, ND and head hockey coach and athletic director at Madison West High School |archive-date=October 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019030748/https://www.nhl.com/errors/not-found |url-status=live }} Skille has two sisters, Maggie and Claire. He attended Huron High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Verona Area High School in Verona, Wisconsin.

Career statistics

=Regular season and playoffs=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"
bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"|

! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"|

! colspan="5"|Regular season

! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"|

! colspan="5"|Playoffs

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! Season

! Team

! League

! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM

! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM

2002–03

| Verona Area High School

| HS–WI

| —

282553

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2003–04

| U.S. NTDP U17

| USDP

| 33

14102430

| —

2003–04

| U.S. NTDP U18

| NAHL

| 28

1192031

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2004–05

| U.S. NTDP U18

| NAHL

| 16

6111720

| —

2004–05

| U.S. NTDP U18

| USDP

| 26

9112036

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2005–06

| University of Wisconsin–Madison

| WCHA

| 39

1372035

| —

2006–07

| University of Wisconsin–Madison

| WCHA

| 26

8101812

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2006–07

| Norfolk Admirals

| AHL

| 9

4480

| 3

0002
2007–08

| Rockford IceHogs

| AHL

| 59

16183444

| 12

2136
bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2007–08

| Chicago Blackhawks

| NHL

| 16

3250

| —

2008–09

| Chicago Blackhawks

| NHL

| 8

1015

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2008–09

| Rockford IceHogs

| AHL

| 58

20254556

| —

2009–10

| Chicago Blackhawks

| NHL

| 6

1120

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2009–10

| Rockford IceHogs

| AHL

| 63

23264950

| 4

0000
2010–11

| Chicago Blackhawks

| NHL

| 49

7101725

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2010–11

| Florida Panthers

| NHL

| 13

1124

| —

2011–12

| Florida Panthers

| NHL

| 46

461028

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2012–13

| Rosenborg IHK

| NOR

| 9

661220

| —

2012–13

| Florida Panthers

| NHL

| 40

391211

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2013–14

| Springfield Falcons

| AHL

| 22

1311249

| —

2013–14

| Columbus Blue Jackets

| NHL

| 16

4046

| 6

0110
bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2014–15

| Columbus Blue Jackets

| NHL

| 45

62816

| —

2015–16

| Colorado Avalanche

| NHL

| 74

861411

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2016–17

| Vancouver Canucks

| NHL

| 55

54912

| —

2017–18

| Dinamo Minsk

| KHL

| 41

11142518

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2018–19

| Genève–Servette HC

| NL

| 23

551016

| 2

0000
2019–20

| Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers

| DEL

| 16

73106

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2020–21

| EC Red Bull Salzburg

| ICEHL

| 25

1010200

| 11

1122
bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" | NHL totals

! 368 !! 43 !! 41 !! 84 !! 118

! 6 !! 0 !! 1 !! 1 !! 0

=International=

{{MedalTableTop|name = }}

{{MedalCountry | {{USA}} }}

{{MedalSport | Ice hockey}}

{{MedalCompetition|World Junior Hockey Championship}}

{{MedalBronze | 2007 Leksand | }}

{{MedalCompetition|Under-18 World Championships}}

{{MedalGold | 2005 Pilsen | }}

{{MedalSilver | 2004 Minsk | }}

{{MedalBottom

}}

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em"
ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! Year

! Team

! Event

! Result

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

2004

| United States

| U17

| 4th

| 5

| 2

| 3

| 5

| 14

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2004

| United States

| WJC18

| {{silver2}}

| 6

| 1

| 1

| 2

| 4

2005

| United States

| WJC18

| {{gold1}}

| 6

| 1

| 3

| 4

| 8

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2006

| United States

| WJC

| 4th

| 7

| 2

| 0

| 2

| 4

2007

| United States

| WJC

| {{bronze3}}

| 7

| 1

| 5

| 6

| 14

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2011

| United States

| WC

| 8th

| 2

| 1

| 0

| 1

| 0

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="4" | Junior totals

! 26

! 5

! 9

! 14

! 30

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="4" | Senior totals

! 2

! 1

! 0

! 1

! 0

References

{{reflist}}

Further reading

{{refbegin}}

  • {{cite web |url=http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=477182 |title=Blackhawks Mailbag: Jack Skille |publisher=Chicago Blackhawks |date=August 9, 2005 |access-date=December 30, 2010 |archive-date=June 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615063755/http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=477182 |url-status=live }}
  • {{cite web |url=http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=477188 |title=Skille On Shelf For Prospects Camp |publisher=Chicago Blackhawks |date=August 22, 2005 |access-date=December 30, 2010 |archive-date=June 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615063739/http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=477188 |url-status=live }}
  • {{cite web |url=http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=477288 |title=Eye on the Hawks Video: Jack Skille |publisher=Chicago Blackhawks |date=July 7, 2006 |access-date=December 30, 2010 |archive-date=June 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615063705/http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=477288 |url-status=live }}
  • {{cite web |url=http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=477052 |title=Skille In Elite Class Of Western Conference Rookies |publisher=Chicago Blackhawks |date=September 18, 2008 |access-date=December 30, 2010 |archive-date=June 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615063801/http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=477052 |url-status=live }}
  • {{cite web |last=Boron |first=Brad |url=http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=477058 |title=Skille, Brouwer Waiting In The Wings |publisher=Chicago Blackhawks |date=September 29, 2008 |access-date=December 30, 2010 |archive-date=June 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615063709/http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=477058 |url-status=live }}
  • {{cite web |last=Rosen |first=Dan |url=http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=477064 |title=Skille Ready To Show He Belongs |publisher=Chicago Blackhawks |date=October 13, 2008 |access-date=December 30, 2010 |archive-date=June 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615063713/http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=477064 |url-status=live }}
  • {{cite web |url=http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=523304 |title=AHL Update: Skille Knocking On The Door Of NHL |publisher=Chicago Blackhawks |date=March 30, 2010 |access-date=December 30, 2010 |archive-date=June 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615063702/http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=523304 |url-status=live }}
  • {{cite web |url=http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=535100 |title=Blackhawks re-sign Bickell and Skille |publisher=Chicago Blackhawks |date=July 28, 2010 |access-date=December 30, 2010 |archive-date=August 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100802142333/http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=535100 |url-status=live }}
  • {{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2010-07-28-4187594898_x.htm |title=Blackhawks re-sign Bickell, Skille |work=USA Today |date=July 28, 2010 }}
  • {{cite news |last=Jahns |first=Adam L. |url=http://www.suntimes.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/2803343-419/skille-speed-blackhawks-lot-toews.html |title=Skille likes fast track |work=Chicago Sun Times |date=December 12, 2010 |access-date=December 30, 2010 |archive-date=October 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009150030/http://www.suntimes.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/2803343-419/skille-speed-blackhawks-lot-toews.html |url-status=live }}
  • {{cite news |last=Rogers |first=Jesse |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/blackhawks/post/_/id/4665359/skille-bickell-step-up-for-hawks |title=Skille, Bickell step up for Hawks |publisher=ESPN |date=December 22, 2010 |access-date=December 30, 2010 |archive-date=December 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101226183201/http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/blackhawks/post/_/id/4665359/skille-bickell-step-up-for-hawks |url-status=live }}
  • {{cite news |last=Kuc |first=Chris |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2010/12/23/hawks-skille-keeps-shooting/ |title=Hawks' Skille keeps shooting |work=Chicago Tribune |date=December 23, 2010 |access-date=2010-12-30 |archive-date=2011-09-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917012320/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-12-23/sports/ct-spt-1224-bits-blackhawks-chicago--20101223_1_jack-skille-penalties-troy-brouwer |url-status=live }}

{{refend}}