• In his second season with the U.S. National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Skjei (pronounced SHAY) helped the U.S. capture gold at the Under-18 World Championship leading the way defensively with a plus-10 rating.

• Skjei has committed to the University of Minnesota for the fall of 2012. His grandfather, Stan, was a collegiate football star for the Gophers in the early 1960’s and attending the University of Minnesota has been his dream since he was young.

• Making the Minnesota State Tournament in 2010 with Lakeville North high school is his favorite hockey memory – he recorded 29 points (11-18--29) in 30 games during the 2009-2010 season.

• His uncle, Barry Karn, an NHL skating coach was the first to put him on skates -- “(he) would always take me to his practices and push me around on chairs.”