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Q&A with Cory Schneider
Written by: Matt MacInnis on 12/21/2005 
After backing up Al Montoya in last year’s World Juniors, Schneider is expected to be the Team USA’s starting goaltender. He positional play between the pipes, combined with a cool demeanour, ability to perform under pressure and quick reflexes, make him one of the top goaltenders in the tournament. The Americans are holding a pre-tournament camp in Victoria, BC, and Schneider looked outstanding in an evening practice session, letting very few shots get past him.
This will be Schneider’s first trip to the city of Vancouver, and the first opportunity many Canucks fans have to see him play in person. He says he is looking forward to being able to showcase his skills in front of the Canucks brass.
HF: How confident are you that you will be the starting goaltender in this tournament?
CS: You know, Coach [Walt] Kyle hasn’t said anything yet, so I can’t be overly confident that I’m going to be the guy. I’m just going to play hard in practice and hopefully in scrimmages as well. Maybe that and based on my experience from being here last year. But right now he hasn’t said anything and if it’s [Jeff] Frazee, I’ll be supporting him all the way.
HF: Last year you had a rough appearance, does that weigh on your mind at all?
CS: Not really, I’m not even thinking about it to be honest. It was a completely different tournament in a completely different time. I think I’ve gotten a lot better and a lot more mature.
HF: Do you have any personal goals for this tournament?
CS: Well, our team, gold. Personally I just want to be able to play every game and give my chance a team to win every game that I do play.
HF: How would you describe your style in net?
CS: I’m a big guy so I like to use butterfly, just positional, just get square to the shooter and take up as much of the net as possible.
HF: What do you need to improve as you develop?
CS: I think anticipation and reading plays, just trying to know where the pucks going to be ahead of time. And, you know, kind of working on rebounds, stopping pucks, and putting them where I want instead of letting them bounce off me.
HF: You were drafted by the Rimouski Oceanic of the QMJHL in 2003. Obviously you made the decision to remain in the USHL and attend college, but did the fact that the Oceanic had a player like Sidney Crosby and a team that seemed destined for a Memorial Cup appearance make the decision any more difficult?
CS: Not really. I never really ever gave it a thought. I was really committed to the college route and I’m happy where I am so no regrets.
HF: This is your second season in the NCAA, how many more years will you stay at BC?
CS: I have no idea. You know, all four if that’s what it takes. I’ll do whatever Vancouver has to say, so I’m just waiting to hear what they have to say. I’ll play it by ear.
HF: What are you studying in school?
CS: I’m studying finance, that’s my major, so lots of math courses and stuff like that.
HF: Lots of homework?
CS: Yeah, lots, but not too bad.
HF: John Laliberte, another Canucks prospect, plays at Boston University. Do you know each other at all off the ice?
CS: No, I actually don’t know him. We play against him a bunch, he’s a really good player, he seems like he’s gotten better.
HF: BC seems to be improving as the year goes on, and that includes your own play. What would you attribute this development to?
CS: I think the young guys, we have ten freshmen and seven sophomores, so I think we’re getting better with every game and hopefully by the second half of the year we’ll hit our stride and be great down the stretch.
HF: The Canucks have a host of top goaltending prospects, led by yourself, but also including Julien Ellis and Alexandre Vincent. Do you think that there may be a logjam in the system in the future when you all move to the AHL?
CS: You know, I haven’t really thought that far ahead. They’re all probably good goalies, from what I’ve heard of them, you know, just sort of see and the best man wins. But I’m working as hard as I can every day to try to, you know, not make that an issue.
HF: How many years do you think it will take you to reach the NHL?
CS: Right now! (laughs) I have no idea. You know, I know I’m not ready yet, and it’ll probably take a few more years at least, so I’m not overly eager, so I’m going to take my time and make sure I’m ready.
HF: The Canucks have historically been a bit of a goalie graveyard and fans are becoming increasingly frustrated by Dan Cloutier’s consistency and health. Does it put any added pressure knowing you’re going to a city that has a history of being very, very hard on goaltenders?
CS: Not really. Having lived on the opposite coast I don’t hear much about it and it doesn’t really effect me. I didn’t grow up watching it.
HF: Who was your favorite team growing up?
CS: I was a Bruins guy. I grew up in the Boston area, so I always liked the Bruins.
Copyright 2005 Hockey’s Future. Do not reprint or otherwise duplicate without permission of the editorial staff.
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