Balancing Act - JUN.26.08
Entry posted by Cory Schneider
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<table align="center" border="0" width="80%"><tbody><tr><td><img src="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload//2008/06/cory_blog.jpg" align="left" border="0" hspace="4" vspace="1"> I just have a few minutes this afternoon before we're doing gym work, so I thought I'd put a few words down for Day Four.
We got on the ice with pucks for the first time this morning. I felt alright, but it's the first time I've seen the puck in a while so the timing's a little bit off. I'm sure once I get some more on-ice training it's going to get better.
I suppose you have to look at it from both sides because these guys haven't been shooting pucks at all, so they're a little bit off as well. Everyone just has to take it with a grain of salt. Didn't exactly look like all-stars though.
Today we were primarily working on tight turns and pivots, as well as opening up to get the puck. I'll take some of it and use some of it for my game, but there are other parts that don't really apply to me. Still, it's good to work on agility, balance and footwork.<a href="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2008/06/062608_cory01_b.jpg" target=_new><img src="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2008/06/062608_cory01_t.jpg" align="right" border="0" hspace="4" vspace="1"></a>
We were also doing a lot of stride analysis with Ryan Lounsbury the skating coach. They want you to get your full extension with each stride while making your upper body as still as possible so you're not wasting energy on any extra movements. For me, if I'm racing after a loose puck or trying to race for the bench on a delayed penalty it helps – so that stuff was helpful.
We were supposed to head down to the beach in the afternoon for yoga – Locarno I think. It was still raining after the on-ice session so they're sending us up in one of the suites at GM Place instead. Not quite the same view, but I enjoy the yoga.
I really liked it last year. I haven't done it since - it's one of those things where you don't really think of until you're doing it at camp, so hopefully when I get back home I can maybe take some classes.
Lots of people do it now, but if you haven't, it's not easy. You really have to go through it. It's tough. You really work your abs and core. You come out of it and you're feeling it the next day in places you wouldn't think you would. I'm stretching out muscles that I didn't even know you had. Hopefully I'll be a little better at it since I did it last summer and know what to expect more or less.<a href="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2008/06/062608_cory03_b.jpg" target=_new><img src="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2008/06/062608_cory03_t.jpg" align="left" border="0" hspace="4" vspace="1"></a>
It's good for all of us, but being a goalie it's really good because you work on your balance and stability, as well as flexibility. I might be able to get into a few more positions than some of the other guys can,
I see a few people are asking about some of the other guys at camp. They're all good guys and everyone gets along surprisingly well. For the most part we're all pretty comfortable with each other.
I'd say PC Labrie stands out as one of the funnier guys. Just having known him all year in Winnipeg, I know that his English is still a little rough so some of the things he says are pretty funny whether he means it or not.
This is the first camp for a few of the new guys who just got picked this year and they're not terribly comfortable yet. They're trying to make an impression so they're pretty focused.
The rest of us are all focused and serious about what we're doing here but I think some of the older guys and some of us who have been through this before are a little more relaxed. I don't want to single one guy out for being too serious.
As far as a guy who has surprised me this year? I'd probably say my roommate Taylor Ellington.
Last summer Taylor was injured. He was coming off back problems. He hadn't really had a chance to work out and you could kind of tell during the gym sessions that he hadn't really been doing too much. This year I think he had some time to get back in shape and regain his health. He looks a lot better than he did last year - during workouts and on the ice.<a href="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2008/06/062608_cory04_b.jpg" target=_new><img src="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2008/06/062608_cory04_t.jpg" align="right" border="0" hspace="4" vspace="1"></a>
I think that's what happens when you have a full year of health and you can get back to being fully energized for something like this. He's a bit of a higher pick, so hopefully he's impressed them enough to earn a spot here next year.
As far as being a roommate goes, we're on a slightly different schedule - Taylor gets up a little earlier than I do because it takes him a little longer to wake up - but I really don't mind. I can sleep through it. We get along really well. I go to sleep before him so I couldn't tell you if he snores or anything.
I'd say the worst roommate habit is probably someone who stays up late and watches television and goes on the computer while I'm trying to sleep. It can be pretty frustrating if you're tired and you have a game the next day and they're up and you can't go to sleep. You don't want to be a jerk and tell them to knock it off, but at the same time you hope that they figure it out.
I see some of the guys packing up and heading into the gym, so I'm going to log off. Tomorrow we're supposed to be outside again. I don't think weather will interfere, so it should be a good day.</td></tr></tbody></table>
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