The NHL has its big love stories - Sway & Ully, Connor & Leon (or Matthew & Leon depending on your persuasion), Sid & Geno. And then there's the smaller ones that fly under the radar, like Stu & Vinny - two people who's careers are so entwined that the 24/25 season is their first professional year playing apart from each other.
We've all seen the high fives, the VinnySkinnyWinny ™, but when did it start? The playoffs? The cup run?
Nope.
Wichita, Kansas - 2019, ECHL. Two roommates who weren't sure whether it was worth it to keep going, to even bother trying for the NHL. Two roommates who made a pact to push each other, to be the best they could be, and to have some fun along the way.
But, to understand their connection and who they are now, we have to go back a little further than Kansas.
Let' start with the joyful, whimsical man that is Vincent Desharnais.
Vinny grew up in Laval, Quebec. He started off figure skating (which is hilarious when you think about someone who is now 6'7 gliding around beautifully - I would pay good money to see him do a triple axel) but he much preferred hockey. His older brother Alex played and his dad was a defenceman who once attended the Detroit Red Wings training camp and shared the ice with Gordie Howe [1]. So yeah, Vinny was always gonna do hockey.
He attended a hockey prep school and was always told that he was good, but not good enough. At 16, he sat at the QMJHL draft and watched as all his friends were chosen, but not him. He was heartbroken. But, he decided to prove that they'd made the biggest mistake and worked even harder, making the huge decision to move to New York for his final year of high school [1].
Only one problem: He couldn't speak any English.
He knew "Yes" and "No" and that was it. He begged his mother to come and get him, and she almost did, but his dad talked her out of it.
Which was for the best, as he wanted to go to college.
His last chance at being drafted into the NHL, Vinny spent the day at his brother's lake house, checking his phone periodically throughout the day. Just as he'd finally given up, the Oilers called him. He hadn't heard from them at all, and was so incredibly grateful that they had chosen him. Even though he was a 7th rounder, he promised them that he'd make sure they'd made the right decision.
"He's the kind of guy you'd die to coach"
Providence College allowed Vinny to work on his skills, get his degree and wait until the Oilers were ready for him. By the end of his last year, he became Captain of the team.
He's fiercely loyal - what you see is what you get. No one ever has a negative thing to say about him, he's just out here to make people happy.
And the love of his life? Babygirl, People's Princess, Stuart Skinner.
Stu was born in Edmonton (homegrown local boy!) and is the youngest of 9 children, all of them with names that start with the letter S [2].
Following in all their footsteps, Stu loved hockey. When he was 7, he got to see his favourite goalie Dwayne Roloson play in Rexall Place with the Oilers and always had to have the sports channel playing on the radio anytime the family jumped in the car [3].
He played Timbits hockey as a centre, but wanted to be the goalie. One day, his dad came back from a work trip and went to pick him up from practice, only to see him dragging goalie pads behind him. Apparently, everyone got to have a turn. His dad wasn't sure, so when they got home, he told Stu to put all his gear on and go out in the yard - two of his older brothers were given buckets of pucks and told to slapshot the hell out of 8 year old Stuey.
Of course, this didn't work out the way anyone wanted - Stu loved it.
He loves to just stop the puck, loves being in the crease, dancing and singing to himself [4].
At 16, he was drafted into the WHL and joined the Lethbridge Hurricanes. They had asked to him to come and play straight away, so there weren't many other 16 year olds around [4]. He was good, and got a little cocky.
"I thought I did not have to work hard in practice. I guess I was a selfish, immature kid. I did everything for me."
After he was drafted by the Oilers, he headed back to Lethbridge until he was traded to Swift Current and gifted with the opportunity to grow up a little, to work on himself and let go of his ego [5]
He doesn't get upset, he just focuses on what he needs to do. He's still a classic brat though - when he was little, he'd have the principal chasing him around the school yard until the principal was bent over, gasping for air. Stu would go up to him and ask "What's the matter, are you tired?" and then just walk back to school [6]. He'd finish his maths test early and spend the rest of the time practicing his signature, it'd be worth something one day [7].
Stu's a huge fan of stoicism and tries to use that mentality when he's on the ice. His favourite author is Ryan Holiday - a non fiction writer who focuses on stoic philosophy in his books. The first one Stu read was Ego is the Enemy, given to him by Dylan Wells (Dallas Stars) when they met at Hockey Canada camps [5].
He learns from his mistakes - readily admitting that he's a product of failure. He kept his broken goalie stick from the LA playoffs as a reminder to always check his stick for cracks [8].
“It’s important for me because it’s a reminder. That it’s life, you know? All of us in this room have experienced it, things don’t go well all the time.”
Stu's quiet, funny and caring. He's also a bit of a dork - challenging everyone on the team to Mario Kart battles (toad forever!) and chirping Connor. He's the teams little brother.
And then, in Kansas in 2019, two souls destined for each other meet.
Vinny arrives in Wichita and meets his new roommate - Stu, who's just been sent down from the Bakersfield Condors. Stu's only there for a few weeks, but an immediate friendship forms, the classic Goalie and his Defender.
Everything comes to a head when they lose 8-2 to the Utah Grizzlies, Vinny ending the game with a -2. They're sitting on the couch, playing a video game, when one of them pauses it. Quietly, they ask each other, what are we doing here? Is this it? [1].
"I remember hanging out with Vinny. We went back to our apartment and I remember saying, 'I don't know if the NHL is going to happen for us. It seems so far away." - Stuart
They decide it's worth it, they can do it and they can do it together.
“When you’re two people in the same boat, you don’t feel as lonely.” - Vinny
Side note: this quote kills me.
And so, the VinnySkinnyWinny was born. Vinny waits for the goalie line to end, waits for Stu by the boards before getting into position and lifting his hand high above Stu's head - they high five and wrap each other in a tight hug [9][10][11][12].
Every week, until this season, they hang out together on dates and revisit that conversation in their old apartment; a reminder of just how far they've come together.
They both end up together in Bakersfield, playing for the Condors where the tradition continues. Stu is up and down with the Oilers until a spot opens up as the back up goalie to Jack Campbell. Eventually, Stu is given the starter position and a full time contract while Vinny is still in Bakersfield, leading the AHL with a +36.
Things took a turn for Vinny when he suffered a terrible concussion that resulted in him suffering major depression and anxiety. It was so bad, his mother flew for three days from Montreal to get to him [13].
"I developed anxiety, starting having anxiety attacks, starting being depressed, led to the depression. I wanted to quit hockey, wanted to quit on life pretty much. I didn’t want to be here anymore."
Eventually, it got so bad that he realised he did need help, that he needed to push aside his ego and his own stubbornness - it made all the difference and is why he is still here today [14].
"I feel like my depression just kind of made me realize that you don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow but you control today, so today, smile. Put a smile on your face because you control that. I don’t control what my neighbour does but I control my smile on my face, and I control my mood, and I control my happiness."
Journaling became a huge part of his mental health journey [1] [14]. Every emotion, good or bad, gets written down, every post game decision that he can learn from - written down and studied.
Vinny speaks openly about his mental health struggles and that it's possible to work through them [15].
Finally, in the 22/23 season, our boys are reunited when Vinny is called up for his first NHL game in Anaheim.
The pure joy on Stu's face will solve all our problems. The hand holding. I cannot.
Vinny's whole family flies out to Anaheim to watch his first game, crying in the stands as he does his rookie lap [16][1].
The start of the 23/24 season for the Oilers was rough. We all know the story. They sucked and their coach was replaced. Stu and Vinny both worked extra hard, trying to help out each other and their teammates. The thing about Vinny, is that once he's in, he's in and you can't get rid of him. He's fuelled by people believing in him, and no one believes in him more than Stu does [17].
"Big body, Big stick" - Stuart
Side note: Stu, please.
"He knows his job and he does it, I think about how much he's helped me. The things that he does in front of me is just beyond - how he can block that many shots for me on the PK." - Stuart
True love.
It's rare that someone plays with a teammate in three separate professional leagues - it's something that Vinny treasures about Stu.
"Tougher days you show up, and you're a little bit more tired, the body is sore, and you're going through a tough streak at the start of the season. We kept reminding each other of where we started." - Vinny
Everyone - Ken Holland included - expected Vinny to resign with the Oilers for the 24/25 season.
But Free Agency came around and he signed with Vancouver - just before the deadline.
He didn't want to leave. Not at all. But it's a business, it's his job [18].
For the first time in their professional careers, Stu and Vinny will be separated.
Over the break, they both attended Connor's wedding - staying in the same hotel and sharing a rental car, knowing it was going to be their last time together [19].
"I swear to God, if I see you doing the high five with Demko, I'm gonna lose my marbles." - Stuart
The first big game, Vancouver v Edmonton, both are interviewed by Oilers TV. Stuart's laughing, betting that Vinny is going to try and score on him (Vinny's not a playmaker, he doesn't care about goals for himself).
Vinny ends up with two shots on Stu - neither of them goes in.
Stu misses Vinny, but Vinny texts him all the time, so it's not too bad [20].
These two cannot leave each other alone. Even in different Provinces. Through all the high fives, you can see the joy that they find in each other. They've said I love you [21], they wait for each other, they do the high five even if one of them isn't there (and it's the saddest thing in the world to watch) [22].
Did I mention that their numbers are consecutive?
And let's not forget that Halloween picture [23].
It's been almost 8 years, up and down through the ECHL, AHL and finally the NHL and they did it all together. Tell me they aren't the most married players to ever exist.
Oh, you want more? I got you.
Stu & Vinny AO3 Tag
Tumblr Tags: 7374, Stuart Skinner/Vincent Desharnais
Gayer Than a Piece of Tape - by @tysonsquared (large group chat fic that features Stu & Vinny married as hell)
Ficlets by @stuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
A massive, massive thank you to @deniedbyskinner, @stuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu, @ohpuckno and the oilers lb for helping out with this! And for having to deal with my constant screaming about how married these two are.
Guys if I pointed out that Stuart Skinner and Vincent Desharnais were each other’s rock while they were being sent up and down the minors, majors, and super minors (ECHL). And that their high five is a momento of those times, and as a reminder of where they started and how far they’ve come. What if I told you guys that they’ve been in love for more than five years, would you guys care then? 🥺🥺
“What are you even doing here? This isn't your locker room anymore.” Stu quips, returning Vinny's smirk with one of his own.
“You know how this goes. My team won, so I get to pick the spoils.”
Stu laughs, “You didn't even get a goal in, let alone the winning one.”
“But I was enough of a distraction for you to let three in.” Vinny's smirk grows wider as he pushes himself off the door, making his way across the room to back Stu against the wall. “Drop the towel, Stu.”
Hehehe... I hope you're looking forward to the rest... 😏
