Schneider captains men's squad with determination and effort

For senior David Schneider, captain of the men's ice hockey team, it seems like only yesterday he traveled with his Tiger teammates to Lake Placid, N.Y., to play in the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships.

The memories of the trip remain fresh — the unthinkable comeback from four goals down against Clarkson in the ECAC semifinals to force overtime; the heartbreak of the eventual loss in the overtime period to the Golden Knights; and the ultimate feeling of emptiness after the team's final loss to Rensselaer in the ECAC consolation game.

The trip to Lake Placid wasn't yesterday though, but three years ago when Schneider was a freshman just learning the ropes on defense as a Tiger. The clarity of that trip in his mind marks the significance of the experience for him — and reflects his ultimate desire to once again return to Lake Placid, the site of American hockey's — and, once Princeton's — "miracle on ice."

Since that trip, much has changed. As a hockey player and a person, Schneider has matured to become Princeton's leader.

Schneider, a lacrosse and hockey star at the Westminster School in Connecticut, was immediately attracted to Princeton by the dedication of the coaching staff. Though head coach Don Cahoon has since resigned, Len Quesnelle '88, an assistant coach under Cahoon, has taken up the helm. Schneider's respect and admiration for the Princeton coaching staff is matched equally by the coaches' respect for their senior captain.

"David is a leader by example, by the way he goes about his business both athletically and academically," Quesnelle said.

Hampered by a groin injury his freshman year, and forced to sit out eight games that season, the five-foot, nine-inch, 190-lb. defenseman has emerged from that injury-ridden first season not only healthy but also as an offensive and defensive force to reckon with.

From an offensive standpoint, Schneider is the man among all blueliners. His ability to see the ice and create opportunities was impressive as a freshman, and has only gotten better.

"I have become a quicker player: literally I am faster on my feet and I also think more quickly," Schneider said. "I can read situations better than I did three years ago."

Schneider has netted 13 goals —including eight power-play goals — over the last three seasons, and has assisted on more than 20 goals. As the point man on the power play, it is his powerful slap shot which creates deflections, opportunities for forwards, and it his vision and ability to make quick passes which create chances for one-timers and other quick shots for the team's scorers.

As a defenseman, he plays much like his favorite player growing up, Chris Chelios, known around the NHL as a tough, no-nonsense defenseman.

He has learned how to incorporate both offense and defense in his game, balancing when to rush the puck up the ice and when to dish it off to a forward and stay back, just as he's strived to excel in the rink and in the classroom. His ability to balance has made him, both on and off the ice, a superstar.

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"He looks to overachieve in everything he does, whether in school work or training," Quesnelle said. "He takes no shortcuts."

Honest, hard-working, and driven — the qualities Quesnelle uses to describe his captain — are the traits which have made him a role model on a team with many underclassmen.

Besides having both the offensive and defensive skills to serve as a viable mentor for the younger players, his character provides stability. It produces, according to Quesnelle, a "calming effect" on a team looking to rebound from the loss of eight seniors, including its top scorers.

If there's anything that drives Schneider this season, it's to get the team back to Lake Placid.

"Reaching the ECAC semifinals in Lake Placid is definitely an attainable goal of this team," Schneider said. "It is our number one priority."

A dreamer — but also a motivator, a leader, and a well-rounded hockey player — David Schneider might be just the person to lead the Tigers to recreate that miracle on ice.