QUINTO, CH (NEWS113) -  Canucks goaltender Cory Schneider began his new temporary hockey life as a member of the Swiss league’s Ambri-Piotta Bianco-Blu today.

Schneider has practiced with his new teammates after arriving in Switzlerland.

“Ambri was a team that showed interest from the beginning and a team we had stayed in touch with, and I think they provided me with the opportunity that was the best,” Schneider tells News1130 Sports.

Schneider looks forward to receiving a lot of shots while playing with the team from Northern Switzlerand which is near the bottom of the Swiss first division standings.

“It’s hard to replicate a game situation in practice, and I could feel that my game wasn’t quite where I wanted it to be, if the season was going to start in a short amount of time,” says Schneider, who has signed a contract that commits him to the Swiss team until December 31st.

Schneider is still optimistic that the NHL season will be saved and believes that he could be more prepared for the regular season by playing overseas, rather than taking part in a one-week training camp, which is expected to be the case if hockey does come back. He is expected to make his debut as early as this weekend for a road game at the Kloten Flyers.

Ambri and Piotta are two small villages in the northern region of Switzerland and play in the Valascia, an arena with a regular capacity of just 2,000 (7,000 with expansion).

Schneider’s new team includes former Canuck forward Richard Park, and goaltender Nolan Shaefer, a former San Jose Sharks draft pick, the brother of former Canuck Peter Shaefer.

The team has a long history, dating back to 1937. Ambri-Piotta’s alumni include former NHL great and one-time Western Hockey League Vancouver Canuck Andy Bathgate.