Vancouver Canucks goalie Cory Schneider could be close to leaving his Swiss league club HC Ambri Piotta to return to North America.
According to a report from News 1130 Sports in Vancouver, Schneider could play his final game in Switzerland on Wednesday.
The gm of Ambri Piotta J.J Aeschlimann tells us that tonight may be Cory Schneider’s final game in the Swiss League.
— News1130 Sports (@News1130Sports) January 2, 2013
Aeschlimann says Schneider is taking it game by game as is Matt Duchene. The gm has started preparing for life without his NHL players.
— News1130 Sports (@News1130Sports) January 2, 2013
With the NHL lockout potentially on the verge of ending, Schneider is one of many NHLers currently playing in Europe who are making plans to return home.
Early Wednesday it was reported that Ottawa Senators star Jason Spezza left Switzerland because he is confident he will play in the National Hockey League this season. Spezza had tallied 30 points in 28 games with Rapperswil-Jona of the Swiss league.
Some of Schneider’s teammates on Ambri Piotta include Colorado Avalanche centre Matt Duchene and NHL veterans Richard Park and Jason Williams. Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty played five games with the team earlier this year before returning to North America to rehab an elbow injury.
Schneider picked up his first win with the club in early December and in seven games has a goals-against average of 2.83 and a save percentage of .927. The 26-year-old also recently competed in the Spengler Cup for HC Fribourg.