NHL. Each expresses great admiration for the other’s skills. And both embody the work ethic and positive attitude PA aims to cultivate in its student-athletes.
Humility Plus Ability
“What Cory brought to the table that everybody respected was humility and work ethic,” says former hockey head coach Chris Gurry ’66, who coached Schneider his first season. “Just by his being at the school, Cory made other kids aware of what excellence was in a variety of areas.”
“Both are so humble, given their extraordinary abilities,” says When Coach Boylan took over the reins, he put Schneider Dean Boylan, Andover’s head hockey coach from 2001 to 2014. “They approached every single practice as if they were in touch with private goalie instructor Brian Daccord, a former member of the Boston Bruins coaching staff, who fighting for their jobs.” continues to work with Schneider to this day. It was Boylan who facilitated an introduction between Leading by Example the two, when Kreider was contemplating his post-PA Schneider set an example as a team leader—the rare goalie options. Kreider and Schneider e-mailed back and forth to serve as team captain—and a competitor. “He would be about Andover and their hockey experiences; the followupset if he got beat in practice,” Boylan says. “There was never ing summer they crossed paths, and Schneider ultimately a puck that he let in where he said, ‘Well, there wasn’t much convinced Kreider to choose BC, his own alma mater. The two kept in touch sporadically and saw each other off and on I could do about that.’ Even if there was a goal scored when before reconnecting at the wedding of Brian Boyle (currently he had absolutely no chance, Cory would be kicking himself, trying to think of a way he could have gotten to the puck.” with the Tampa Bay Lightning), who had been Schneider’s teammate at BC and Kreider’s teammate with the Rangers. The second contest ever hosted in Harrison Rink was the They now form a mutual admiration society. Schneider says Andover-Exeter game during Schneider’s lower year. A Kreider—at 6' 3" and 226 lbs.—probably ranks as one of the Zamboni mishap necessitated a change in venue partway NHL’s five fastest skaters. “He comes down that wing with a through the close and fiercely fought game. “It ended up 0–0 and going to overtime,” says Schneider. “Exeter won 1–0, but ton of speed, so you’ve got to be ready,” says Schneider. that was a pretty fond memory. My best memory, actually.” Kreider on Schneider: “He’s not an easy goalie to score on.” There was an indelible moment for his coach, too. Kreider would know. That rebound goal last October was the only time he has scored on Schneider in the NHL—and “At the end of three periods—and this is what I’ll never he also used to shoot on Schneider in summertime practice forget—Cory came to the bench,” says Boylan. “I looked at sessions many years ago in eastern Massachusetts rinks. him and he looked at me, and he said, ‘How much fun is this, Coach?’ A 10th-grader in that environment, that was the kind “Before he knew who I was, I knew who he was,” Kreider of attitude he had. I knew for sure he was very, very special.” says. “He was incredibly impressive back then.” Thanks to these NHL stars—who in turn thank Andover for By the time Schneider was in his upper year, NHL scouts their well-rounded preparation—there’s been a marked rise began attending games. As a senior, he saved 96 percent of all shots he faced, was named All–New England for the of the Andover hockey program in the past decade. second straight season, and was ranked the country’s top “Cory started it,” says Boylan. high school goalie. At year’s end he was drafted in the first Schneider grew up playing pond hockey in Marblehead, round by the Vancouver Canucks—but only after leading Mass., and entered Andover for his lower year. “At that point, Andover to the prep playoffs for the first time in eight years. I wasn’t thinking [college hockey], and I wasn’t thinking Schneider became a star at Boston College, where he set sevNHL, either,” he says. “It was more a chance to get a great eral school records and played with the U.S. National Junior education and play some better athletics. My dad and mom Team before joining the NHL in fall 2007—about the same wouldn’t let me play hockey unless I got good grades.” time Chris Kreider entered Andover. Schneider notes Hale Sturges, his French instructor, and A native of Boxford, Mass., Kreider was always the fastest Tom McGraw, his English instructor and Hearsey House skater on the ice, and he kept that speed through a 10thhouse counselor, as two of his most formative teachers. At grade growth spurt. He starred for two years at nearby Commencement, he received the Yale Bowl for distinction Masconomet Regional High School, entering Andover as in scholarship and athletics. Andover | Fall 2015
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