BOSTON - Despite being the leading scorer for the Harvard hockey team, Kevin Du readily admits he's not an expert when it comes to dissecting goaltenders.
But this much the Crimson standout does know: when it comes to those guys he's trying to shoot the puck past, Cory Schneider is one of the toughest to beat.
"He's very calm and he doesn't get flustered, even when the pressure is really high around him," said Du, whose Crimson will face Schneider and the Boston College Eagles in the second game of tonight's 55th annual Beanpot (8 p.m.) at the TDBanknorth Garden. Boston University and Northeastern square off in the opener at 5 p.m.
"Whatever he needs to do to stop the puck, Schneider always seems to be able to do it. We totally respect him; he's a great goalie."
Schneider takes such compliments in stride, but the big redhead is also a realist. Like his team, he says he's had an "up and down" season, playing well at times and not up to his own high expectations on other occasions.
For a team that went to the national title game a year ago, the Eagles are still trying to find themselves at the start of February. BC will take a so-so 14-10-1 mark into tonight's meeting, having been upset by UMass Amherst at home Friday night, 5-3.
"We're still a young team. We were the youngest team in the country last year, and six months later that doesn't make you all veterans," said the 20-year-old keeper. "We've been inconsistent, that's for sure.
"The good thing is when the Beanpot rolls around, that urgency kicks in; the excitement of knowing what's possible that gets everyone to play their best hockey. You want to start playing your best hockey now. We're focused on doing what we need to do to win the Beanpot."
When asked to describe his season to date, Schneider uses the word "interesting". The 2004 top pick of the Vancouver Canucks has played every minute of every game for the Eagles, save for six minutes at the end of an early season blowout loss to Notre Dame. And his numbers are certainly respectable, with a 14-10-1 record, 2.44 goals-against average, .913 save percentage and three shutouts.
But Schneider - who won the Eberly Trophy as the top goaltender at last year's Beanpot - is quick to admit his season has been marked by inconsistency, knowing that he could be playing better than he already has.
But this much the Crimson standout does know: when it comes to those guys he's trying to shoot the puck past, Cory Schneider is one of the toughest to beat.
"He's very calm and he doesn't get flustered, even when the pressure is really high around him," said Du, whose Crimson will face Schneider and the Boston College Eagles in the second game of tonight's 55th annual Beanpot (8 p.m.) at the TDBanknorth Garden. Boston University and Northeastern square off in the opener at 5 p.m.
"Whatever he needs to do to stop the puck, Schneider always seems to be able to do it. We totally respect him; he's a great goalie."
Schneider takes such compliments in stride, but the big redhead is also a realist. Like his team, he says he's had an "up and down" season, playing well at times and not up to his own high expectations on other occasions.
For a team that went to the national title game a year ago, the Eagles are still trying to find themselves at the start of February. BC will take a so-so 14-10-1 mark into tonight's meeting, having been upset by UMass Amherst at home Friday night, 5-3.
"We're still a young team. We were the youngest team in the country last year, and six months later that doesn't make you all veterans," said the 20-year-old keeper. "We've been inconsistent, that's for sure.
"The good thing is when the Beanpot rolls around, that urgency kicks in; the excitement of knowing what's possible that gets everyone to play their best hockey. You want to start playing your best hockey now. We're focused on doing what we need to do to win the Beanpot."
When asked to describe his season to date, Schneider uses the word "interesting". The 2004 top pick of the Vancouver Canucks has played every minute of every game for the Eagles, save for six minutes at the end of an early season blowout loss to Notre Dame. And his numbers are certainly respectable, with a 14-10-1 record, 2.44 goals-against average, .913 save percentage and three shutouts.
But Schneider - who won the Eberly Trophy as the top goaltender at last year's Beanpot - is quick to admit his season has been marked by inconsistency, knowing that he could be playing better than he already has.
"I'm not playing badly, but it's not up to the my standards and that's frustrating, knowing what I'm capable of," he said. "There haven't been too many games this year where I've been the difference and won a game for us. It's a mental battle; pucks are finding their way in when they shouldn't because I lose focus for a split second.
"Coach (Jerry) York and Jim Logue (the BC goalie coach) thought I was playing too technical, sitting back in my net and not being an athlete. They want me to come out of the net more and be more reactive, to do what comes naturally. I have to have confidence in my own ability."
Lately, Schneider feels that advice has been working. Despite playing a recent stretch of five games in nine games, the former U.S. national team goalie said he's actually felt stronger and fresher the more he plays. "I've gotten into a rhythm and focus the last few games and felt more like I did (last year)," he said.
The Boston College players realize that when Schneider is on top of his game, the Eagles are one of the toughest teams to beat in college hockey.
"Goaltending and special teams win championships, and we're lucky to have one of the best goalies in the nation," sophomore center Benn Ferriero of Essex said. "It's a real boost to the entire team when Cory is playing well."
"When you play in front of an All-American like Cory, that can't help but give you confidence," added junior defenseman Mike Brennan, an assistant captain for the Eagles. "He's got this vision where he just locks onto the puck and you're not going to beat him - and the good thing for us is he's had that a lot lately."
Of all the honors that have already come Schneider's way, one thing that has eluded him is the Beanpot championship. The Eagles fell to nemesis Boston University last year in the title game (3-2), and Schneider would love nothing better than to skate around the Garden rink with the silver pot high over his head a week from tonight.
"As a team accomplishment, it'd be huge," Schneider said. "It's the first tournament we want to win; the others being in March (Hockey East tournament) and April (the national title). It's a tournament atmosphere, gets you used to playing on the Garden ice and what big games are going to be like down the road."
Boston College and Harvard met once already this season, with the Crimson taking a surprise 4-0 victory at home.
"We were fortunate because we put a lot of traffic in front of Schneider and were able to get a few shots past him," said Du. "We'll need to play that same high tempo game if we want to beat him (tonight)."
55th annual Beanpot Championship
Where: TD Banknorth Garden, Boston
When: Tonight and next Monday
Who's involved: Boston College, Boston University, Harvard and Northeastern
Schedule: BU meets Northeastern tonight at 5 p.m., followed by BC vs. Harvard at 8 p.m. The two winners meet in the title game next Monday at 8 p.m. (consolation game at 5 p.m.).
Local players from BC: Cory Schneider, Jr. goalie, Marblehead; Benn Ferriero, Soph. center, Essex; Kyle Kucharski, Soph. forward, Saugus.
Local players from BU: Brian McGuirk, Sr. left wing, Danvers; Chris Higgins, Soph. center, Pingree/Lynnfield; John McCarthy, Soph. center, St. John's Prep/Andover.
Local player from Northeastern: Adam Geragosian, Sr. goalie, St. John's Prep/North Andover.
Trade talks don't bother Schneider
As focused as he is tending goal for at Boston College, Cory Schneider also hears his names in trade rumors from time to time as well. He is property of the Vancouver Canucks, who drafted him in the first round (26th overall) of the 2004 draft, but could be dealt before the NHL trade deadline three weeks from tomorrow.
The rumor mill has been cranking it up lately, with Schneider's name mentioned among a possible package of players that Vancouver could send to Philadelphia for star center Peter Forsberg. There's even been talk of Schneider to teams such as the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, or even the Boston Bruins.
"I don't worry too much about that stuff," said Schneider. "You realize that (the NHL) is a business and (a trade) could happen, and you can't preoccupy yourself at this level. It's always a possibility, but it's not going to affect how I play.
"I'd be disappointed because I'd love to play in Vancouver some day, and the people there have been great to me. But at the same time, I'd be going somewhere I'd be needed, so that'd be good, too."
