Illness scratched goalie’s last potential start Tuesday
But he’s sitting on a four-game winning streak and coming off a 36-save performance in a 5-4 win over the Calgary Hitmen.
Schneider was scheduled to start Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime win over the Kootenay Ice, but a bout of last-minute sickness forced him off the ice.
“I wasn’t feeling very good, then I puked and that was kind of it,” said Schneider “It was pretty frustrating because I feel like I haven’t played in forever. I was really looking forward to getting back in the net so that was pretty unfortunate.”
Tigers head coach and general manager Shaun Clouston added Schneider has still been experiencing flu-like symptoms, but he’s hopeful the 31-win goaltender will get his return to action in this weekend’s home-and-home.
“We’re going to see how he is in practice. He was feeling a little under the weather (Wednesday) so we’re hoping that he’s recovered,” said Clouston. “He had a bit of the flu bug or something there but if he feels good we’d for sure love to get him a game this weekend.” The Tigers are also hoping to get a defensive boost before playoffs with the return of defenceman Ty Schultz. The 19-yearold blueliner broke his leg while blocking a shot in a game against the Swift Current Broncos on Jan. 13, but has been skating daily since Monday and is striving to return before playoffs.
“It’s getting better. I feel all right at the beginning (of skating sessions), but there’s still a lot I can’t do … I haven’t even tried stopping,” said Schultz. “I’m just getting used to my skates again and learning how to skate again almost. Getting back into shape is another thing, I’m trying to skate laps.”
Clouston added defenceman Kristians Rubins will likely be out for the remainder of the regular season with an upper body injury, though he is hopeful the big Latvian will be ready for the post-season.
“I think we would look at him right now as weekto-week,” said Clouston. “I don’t think we’re quite in the day-to-day range but we’re optimistic that come playoff time he’ll be ready to go.”