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Posted on: Friday, February 5th, 2010
By Tim Campbell, Winnipeg Free Press

It's perfectly normal that players take shots at their own goalie in practice.

There was some in-game zip to said shots this week.

The reason? Tonight is Cory Schneider bobblehead night at the MTS Centre.

The first 5,000 fans through the doors will receive the nodding, smiling Schneider mini-me statue, and supplies could be short -- the Moose said Thursday they were close to a lower-bowl sellout of 8,800.

The promotion was wildly popular a year ago, when the team rolled out its first-ever player bobblehead.

The replica was of captain Mike Keane, who, now being an authority on such promotions, was asked this week about the bobblehead experience.

"I can tell you there wasn't a lot of razzing, but I got a lot of calls from people I hadn't talked to in years," Keane said. "I've been fortunate to play on good teams and win Cups but never heard from them.

"But get a bobblehead, well, I guess then you've made it big."

Asked to assess Moose bobblehead No. 2, Keane brought out his best moves.

"Oh, good for Cory," the captain said. "At least the (promotion) commercial is real original (him nodding). But it's a great promotion; he has more hair than I do.

"I've seen it, and yeah, it does look like him. It's a good thing they just show the head because the body wouldn't be pretty. I know they just couldn't put a bag of milk with a cage on it. He looks good for an American kid."

Schneider's teammates reacted mostly with amusement when offered a sneak peek this week.

"Too funny," said centre Mario Bliznak. "It's a good one, better than Keaner's last year, but don't tell Keaner."

Added winger Michael Grabner: "Oh, look at that head. It's a little different; they could have made that hair a little redder, I guess. There aren't any freckles. It's pretty good, but I don't think he's that good-looking, actually."

Rick St. Croix, the team's coach and expert in all things goaltending, was asked if it looked like Schneider.

"He's got the equipment like Cory Schneider," St. Croix chuckled. "He looks like a goalie. He's got pads like a goalie. He's No. 35. It's got to be Cory Schneider."

Others weren't quite as politically correct.

"Hey, it looks like Keaner," winger Guillaume Desbiens said. "They put the same head on it. Cory does put lipstick on sometimes. Look at those -- he's got red lips. He's weird like that. He's a goalie, after all."

Schneider, last season's AHL goalie of the year, knows how to deal with tough shots.

"There's a pretty good cherry hue on the lips there, isn't there?" he said, facing Desbiens' accusation. "It must be all the cherry lip balm I use in the winter."

The wisecracks figure to reach a crescendo today, but Schneider is ready.

"I'm sure it's coming," he smiled. "I've heard the hair's not red enough, it doesn't look like you, stuff like that, but I think this is awesome and bobbleheads are usually nondescript anyway, never usually too perfect."

After last year's hit with Keane, the Moose quickly renewed the plan for tonight's giveaway.

"Keaner's was a pretty big success last year and they were looking to do it again, and when I came here for that charity game in August, they had me put my gear on and took the full 360 (degree) pictures," Schneider said.

Will his mother be getting his bobblehead likeness?

"Absolutely," Schneider said. "I requested some, but it'll be up to them. When I go home after the season, I'm sure my car's going to be full of bobblehead boxes."

Boynton trying to get mojo back

He hadn't played in nine days and defenceman Nick Boynton wasn't trying to hide his rust at Manitoba Moose practice Thursday.

"It'll be nice to play some games," Boynton said, expecting to be in the Moose lineup tonight at the MTS Centre against San Antonio. He was waived and assigned here by the NHL's Anaheim Ducks this week. "It's tough when you're not playing. You fall out of game shape and it's a quick game, and when you're sitting out of the lineup for a couple of weeks, it's tough to jump right back in." The 31-year-old from Nobleton, Ont., hasn't played an AHL game since 2001. "You could tell he was a little winded," Moose coach Scott Arniel said. "He hasn't played in a couple of weeks. With him just getting up to the tempo of practice, well, I'm sure he's looking forward to getting back into the game. You can see he's got some poise out there with the puck." The last time Boynton played for a cold-weather team was 2005-06 in Boston, having been in Florida, Phoenix and Anaheim since.

"I can manage it," he said. "I grew up on a farm in Ontario. I haven't been there in awhile, but it's refreshing, put it that way."

Comments

jason moose fan commented on Friday, Feb 5th, 2010
Schneider should be traded or benched .his heart is gone!!!!.He is playing like he wants to be traded or released from his contract.

Chris commented on Saturday, Feb 6th, 2010
The sad part of that jason is that it may happen. He has lost something, and i do believe honestly that his flare is gone. But face it without him on most occasions this team would be pretty much last place. He's the only one that seems to be keeping it together. He's playing now like D-mac was in the same situation when he was here.

Chris commented on Saturday, Feb 6th, 2010
Oh yea, someone had mentioned in another thread about winning all four games on this homestand. 0/1 now and the way the Rampage played tonight, it will be 0/2 tommorrow unless they stop with the goofy play. Tonight was better then it has been, but obviously just not good enough. What i found funny was 9300 fans turnout, probably 2000 or so more then normal due to bobblehead night, that's just wild. (And not a good thing).

Charles commented on Saturday, Feb 6th, 2010
We can still go 3-0-1. That's 7 of 8 points. Pretty good if you ask me!
Where is the optimism??

Chris commented on Saturday, Feb 6th, 2010
Charles... optimism nothing, it doesn't make the team play any better. See, thats what kills me, saying what you have said just lets the team off the hook for playing the way they do. Pretty good if you ask me? It hasnt even happened yet. LOL... Are ya going to a game on this homestand Charles?

jason moose fan commented on Saturday, Feb 6th, 2010
I do see your point Chris.but the way he is playing it will not be long before we are at the bottom! the last 3 games at home he has let in 18 goals. your goal tender has to stay sharp to fire up the rest of the team.have seen it many times at a home game.Schneider makes a amazing save the moose skate back hard and fire it in the net.NOW THAT'S MOOSE HOCKEY . I went to every playoff game last and most of the home games and watched Schneider stand on his head to keep them in the chase for the cup .this year he is just not there !!!

Scott commented on Saturday, Feb 6th, 2010
Let's face it, these guys are boring too watch except for a few players, whether they are trying something new, ie: trying too jam up neutral zone, with nothing but bad results almost every shift. Lack of goal scoring or not, these guys are not playing hard.

Chris commented on Saturday, Feb 6th, 2010
Well Jason, I have had season tickets since day one and I have travelled to many many road games. THERE! lol... As to Cory, yes he has slipped alot this season, but you also have to look at this defense. It simply sucks, and suffers game after game. As to being at the bottom, your totally right, and we are not that far off that mark.You would have to think of this, if we don't use Cory who do we use? Machesney? He can't cut it alone, the thing is crazy, another decent goaltender is needed because Cory won't last forever. You always have to look at this as well,what is Arniel and compant doing to right all the wrongs? Apparently nothing, if you want my opinion, thats's where the change needs to occur, time for some changes in the coaching dept.New ideas and a new direction are needed. See ya at tonights game!

Jan commented on Saturday, Feb 6th, 2010
screw all of you!!! what you guys need is faith! how are the Moose going to believe that winnipeg has their backs and we support them no matter what when you guys talk like that! you people aren't moose fans, because moose fans, REAL Moose fans, have faith in their home team and will stand by them no matter what. sure, it would be nice to win since we have lost quite a few games, but thats no reason to just give up on them! and i hope at least one of the team members, or even the coach or somebody close to them reads this, because at least i have faith in them! shame on all of you! maybe Cory has had a few rough games, but you guys can't give up. i learned at last nights game, that winning is nice, but its not everytthing. nobody can win all the time. grow up, all of you. im with Charles here, where is the optimism!?! being negative isnt going to get you anywhere, which os sad considering that i assume you guys aren't in your teens. sucks to be you guys, if you have lived your entire life being negative, you really are missing out on a lot of stuff. i may be young, but the fact that i know to always believe in my home hockey team and my favourite players, and you guys don't, well, thats just sad. and just because Cory is having a rough season, doesnt mean you can just go ahead and replace him! imagine if that happened to you? wouldn't you be sad and disapointed, if your boss fired you just because you had a few rough days at work? that would not work. no one would get anywhere, if that happened in real life. you guys need to become REAL moose fans. think about it. and you better hurry, if any of you are going to tonights game.

Chris commented on Sunday, Feb 7th, 2010
Looks like Jan has got it all figured out.

Scott commented on Sunday, Feb 7th, 2010
Jan, do you have a game plane for the Marlies. LOL Please pass it on to Arniel.LOL. Nothing wrong with being optimistic, but depending on how old/young you are, for some of us it gets pretty repitetive watching the same movie over & over.

matt commented on Sunday, Feb 7th, 2010
Hey Jan I hope the team or coaching staff is listening.It might light a fire under these guys.like Scott said it gets tough watching the same movie over & over.

Jan commented on Sunday, Feb 7th, 2010
okay, so i can kinda see how you guys can get tired of watching the same result. but we cant give up!!! i think i do have it all figured out, Chris. you just have to keep believing. i know it can get really tough sometimes, but you gotta hang in there. just like the Moose. you dont see them giving up just because they have had an off season so far! we just got to support them no matter what. what we need is a game plan, and a good one. we need something new and fresh. something that no one is expecting from us, especially for the upcoming game against the Marlies. the Moose need to know that we all still believe in them. and i hope Arniel is listening. maybe he could tell them about this, and they would know that we still believe. he needs to get those guys into action!!! he needs to find something to motivate them, and push them a little. who's with me!!??!!

Chris commented on Sunday, Feb 7th, 2010
Jan, what color is the sky in your world?
No matter what? LOL Jan this about competition, not a some recreational hockey league. One day when you grow up you'll understand. By the way, we DO support the moose, it's time they supported themselves. One thing, when you cheer on failure, it continues because it's seen as "well the fans don't seem to care so why should we change anything?" You have alot to learn Jan about the way things work. Thanks for your interest, but let the adults handle the problem.

Chris commented on Sunday, Feb 7th, 2010
Oh yea, I kept beliveing that all week i was going to win the lottery last night.... I didn't. Guess I'll have to wish harder so the Manitoba Lotteries commission will hear me!

Jan commented on Sunday, Feb 7th, 2010
I wasnt cheering on the failures!!!! i know this is a competition and i know that it's important to win in the AHL, but if that's all you believe in to get throuhg life, then looks like you don't know everything, do you? and so let me ask you this. What colour is the sky in your world? is it grey? Or is it black? because that seems to be the colour for your sky as far as i can tell!!! and by the way, you have no right to tell ME to leave it to the adults!!! i know how things work, and i admit that i dont know everything, because obviously i dont, but neither do you!
and do you know the odds of winning a lottery? nice try buddy, but you can't always get everything in life! and just wishing won't get you anywhere! you have to acxtually do something about it!

Rick commented on Monday, Feb 8th, 2010
I'm with James.........We need to bring Sexy back!!!!!!!!! The guy has been on fire since he got here. In all honesty though I think we're playing as good as we can play given the talent on this year's team. We're driven by a great coach and a great goalie. Desbians has been our best positional player in the last 20 games. Our D is depleted right now and it shows (No Baumer, No Sneider, No Mciver gives us no big shot from the point on the PP). We should still make the playoffs this year even the way everything that has gone wrong with injuries, call-ups, and stars like Jaff, Krog, and Cullen moving to a different zip code. I agree with Jan......Just be happy with that!!!!!!

Chris commented on Monday, Feb 8th, 2010
Since Jan is the ultimate Moose fan, and has all the answers she should be going to the Fort Garry Community Centre on tonight from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm and letting Arniel know that she has the answers, now's a prime oppertunity for her to be truely heard. How about it Jan??

jerrad commented on Monday, Feb 8th, 2010
chris, relax, wow you need help

Chris commented on Monday, Feb 8th, 2010
I probably do your right, but for now I'm awaiting Jan's solution.

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