Underdog candidate determined to win starting job at World Cup.

Cory Schneider may turn out to be the dark horse candidate to win the starting job for Team USA in the upcoming World Cup of Hockey. 

The New Jersey Devils' starting goaltender will find himself starting training camp a little later this year, in order to play in the tournament. The 30-year old will likely try to remain in some of the best shape of his career this offseason, as he is driven to represent his country in September (and possibly October).

"I'm hoping it will allow me to elevate my game sooner. Some camps, it takes a couple days, maybe a week to get into it," Schneider said. "With this USA camp, you better be good from the first practice because I think that's how they're going to evaluate us and figure out who's going to play."

Schneider will have some serious competition if he hopes to start for Team USA, with Ben Bishop of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings both on the World Cup roster. However, he seems determined to reach his ultimate goal of being the man between the pipes for the U.S.

"My goal is to be the guy to play in that tournament, and in order for that to happen, I have to be ready," Schneider said.

For his part, he believes this tournament will even help improve his training camp with the Devils. Team USA opens the tournament on September.17 against Team Europe and will play a minimum of three games. Should they reach the finals the players could be playing up until October.1, well into the start of NHL training camps.

"I only see it as a benefit, to get into that intensity and that level of competitiveness early," Schneider said. "And then coming over here, whenever that is, I'll hopefully be feeling really good about my game and where I am."

He is certainly motivated enough to compete for the position come the start of the long awaited World Cup of Hockey.

[pub]