What were you doing when you were 18?
For NHL rookie sensation Jeff Skinner in his 18th year, he has earned a spot in
the NHL with the Carolina Hurricanes and is now preparing for his first All Star
Game.
As part of the 2011 All Star
festivities, Skinner met with fans at the sports bar Backyard Bistro for "Canes
Corner", a live hour long interview. The place was packed as the Raleigh crowd
has really taken to the Markham, Ontario native. It was such a spectacle, that
some joked it was "Skinnerpalooza".
Skinner spoke to the audience about
the support of his teammates and his strong family upbringing. Quite a ride so
far, for the youngest player ever to play in an NHL All Star game.
Interviewer Mike Maniscalco of 99.9
the Fan, had a surprise interview guest caller for Skinner. Calling from Markham
was Mayor Frank Scarpitti who praised Skinner for his performance, humbleness
and spoke of how proud he was of the young man. Ironically, the City of Markham
has had a Sister City relationship with Cary, NC for several years.
Carolina fans can look forward to a
long and prosperous career from this 7th round draft pick. Skinner's youth could
be best summed up by the response to Maniscalco's question on what was the most
challenging part of his NHL transition so far. "The thought of not having to go
to school in September," Skinner responded.
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