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Working out at Penguins facility, McKees Rocks native Skoff trying to make his 'own story'

By Jason Mackey / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 7 years ago

Matt Skoff has seen a few star-studded scenes.

While working out for the past month at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, Skoff has stopped shots from Brandon Saad, Vince Trocheck and J.T. Miller, three local players who enjoyed breaking seasons in 2015-16.

At the opposite end of the ice has been John Gibson, the No. 1 goaltender for the Anaheim Ducks and, like Saad and Miller, a member of Team North America in the upcoming World Cup of Hockey, which represents the top under-23 talent from the United States and Canada.

“I grew up playing with these guys,” said Skoff, a McKees Rocks native who played his hockey at Montour and at Penn State. “It’s fun to see where they’ve gone, but at the end of the day, I’m trying to make my own story here.”

Skoff’s story may eventually read like the other Pittsburgh stars listed above, but it will take a few more chapters to get there.


Montour goalie Matt Skoff stops a shot during the PIHL AA championship game in 2009. (John Heller/Post-Gazette)

 

While most players skating in Cranberry wear gear given to them by their NHL club, Skoff, 25, remains outfitted in Penn State equipment. He had a stint with the Reading Royals of the ECHL last season, where he signed an amateur tryout contract, but the 6-foot-1, 191-pound netminder is still weighing his options for the upcoming season.

Those include, best case, an AHL tryout or perhaps returning to the ECHL. Either way, Skoff said he’s learned a lot playing against some of the best young players in the league, not to mention someone like Penguins veteran Chris Kunitz, who has joined the group recently.

“My eyes — getting used to shots like these — that’s the biggest thing,” Skoff said. “Just getting experience. These guys all have NHL experience. It’s fun to be out here and see their tendencies. When you give a guy time and space who’s been playing in the NHL, it’s tough.”

So is the experience more intimidating or enjoyable?

“It’s both,” Skoff said. “They’re really nice guys. They’re very approachable. I think that makes it a lot easier, when someone that’s playing above you is very approachable and nice. Especially Tyler Kennedy. He’s been nothing but nice to me. I remember watching him play for so many years with the Penguins and winning the Stanley Cup. It’s cool to see. That whole hockey player attitude is very approachable.”

Skoff is the all-time leader in nearly all of Penn State’s meaningful goaltending stats — games played by a goalie (77), games started (73), minutes played (4,420:36), victories (32), winning percentage (.500), saves (2,114), shutouts (three), goals-against average (2.88) and save percentage (.909).

The Nittany Lions’ season ended on March 18, and the ATO was announced March 21. The quick turnaround was tough for Skoff. So was the fact that he knew nobody.

“There wasn’t too much of a layover,” Skoff said.

He wound up playing 78 minutes and compiling a 1-1-0 record with a 3.10 GAA and an .879 save percentage. The numbers are pedestrian, but the experience was a learning one for Skoff.

“I went from playing with 20 of my best friends to being the new guy on the team. I had to get a little adjusted to that,” Skoff said. “Other than that, obviously it’s a faster-paced game. I think there’s better players. Up the pyramid you go, it’s just that much more difficult.”

OTHERS LIKE SKOFF

Sam Werner and I have enjoyed catching up with Pittsburgh’s best local players. If you’ve missed anything, here are six more stories to check out:

Former Penguins center Tyler Kennedy is fearful of his future

Stars defenseman Stephen Johns deals with constant reminders that Penguins won the Stanley Cup last season

Comfortability key for Upper St. Clair native Vince Trocheck

New contract, marriage and preparing for World Cup all part of hectic offseason for J.T. Miller

After frustrating year, Brandon Saad raring to go in World Cup

Training locally, Mt. Lebanon’s Matt Bartkowski is looking for NHL work

Jason Mackey: jmackey@post-gazette.com and Twitter @JMackeyPG.