Congratulations to former Boston College hockey goaltender Cory Schneider who inked a new three-year deal with the Vancouver Canucks worth $12 million ($4 mil per season). Not bad for a backup netminder with only two full NHL seasons under his belt!

Nice things were said by Canucks General Manager Mike Gillis.

"We're very pleased to have Cory signed. He's a young player who's a very good player, a good person and a good teammate. Why wouldn't you want to have someone like that to be part of your organization?

"Cory has been in this organization as long as I've been here. We've watched him develop ... into one of the top young players in the game. He's a very important part of our hockey team."

With Vancouver agreeing to terms with Schneider, this gives the club more leverage to move Roberto Luongo, should the Canucks find a franchise willing to pick up the $53.3 million price tag (what's left of his massive 12-year contract). Though Gillis has left the door open for both Luongo and Schneider returning in 2012-13. Schneider has been patiently waiting in the wings in Vancouver and got his shot this past April when he took over as starter during the NHL playoffs.

Schneider was a beast in net for the Eagles, leading the program to National Championship game appearances in both 2006 and 2007 before foregoing his senior year to play for the Canucks. Schneider holds the school record for shutouts in a career (15, including a single-season record of 8 during 2005-06), and is second all-time in career GAA (2.09) and third in wins (66).

Here's to hoping that Schneider sees more time in net this season for Vancouver.

For more on the Vancouver Canucks, check out Nucks Misconduct.