CrashingTheGoalie

Cory Schneider played up to his AHL press clippings in Dallas.

Third on Vancouver’s depth chart, he stopped 45 of 47 Stars’ shots.

Hoping to follow in Schneider’s footsteps is Merrimack College’s Joe Cannata, drafted by Mike Gillis last June, in the 6th round – 173rd overall.

courtesy of merrimackathletics.com

Merrimack had been a collegiate doormat, but with their improved goaltending, they’re doing well this season.

Alternating Goaltenders Successful
Through the first six games, goaltenders Joe Cannata and Andrew Braithwaite have alternated games, with each goaltender posting a 2-1 record and both recording save percentage over a .915. Merrimack ranks fourth in Hockey East in goals allowed.

Goaltending Solid in Opening Weekend
Arguably the best 1-2 combination in college hockey, Joe Cannata and Andrew Braithwaite both had solid starts to the season in North Dakota. On Friday, Cannata stopped 35 shots, keeping the Warriors in the game in the third, stopping 15 shots, including an incredible, sprawling save, getting a piece of the puck with the blade of his stick off a Brett Hextall shot midway through the third. Braithwaite recorded 32 saves, including 28 in the final two periods, in the second game in North Dakota.

Cannata in the Record Books
Joe Cannata saw his shutout streak end at 101:09 to start last season when he gave up a third-period goal at Canisius on October 26, 2008. Cannata stopped the first 55 shots he faced, setting a Merrimack record, and turned aside 66 of his first 67 shots. He was the first goaltender in school history to register a shutout in his first start. His 2.35 goals-against-average as a freshman is the second-best in school history for a single season.

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