Big Apple-bound

Snider looking forward to Manhattanville

SEE SNIDER'S POINTSTREAK BIO

TRAVERSE CITY – The Traverse City North Stars season has been over for just a month, but forward Mitchell Snider is already looking forward to the Eastern horizon.

Snider, a Traverse City native who plied his trade for the Stars for the past two seasons after a decorated run at Traverse City West High School, will suit up for Manhattanville College in the fall.  While New York may be the ‘City that Never Sleeps,’ Snider is eager to take to studies and skating during those waking hours.

“I can’t wait,” said Snider, who will join a Valiants roster that posted a 13-9-3 mark in 2011-12. “It’s a great hockey program and school, and I’m excited to get started.”

Snider was the North Stars’ second-leading scorer last season, racking up 20 goals and assisting on 25 others in helping Traverse City to a 34-20-6 record and fourth straight Robertson Cup playoff berth. In 88 career games in his hometown, Snider collected 57 points and was a +14.  He also posted five game-winning tallies.

“Mitchell was a great leader for us,” said Stars head coach Chad Fournier. “He was just relentless on the ice.  He possesses great speed, and he plays tough as well.  He’ll do well at the next level.”

Manhattanville is a private liberal arts college with an enrollment of almost 3,000 students in Purchase, N.Y. – about 30 minutes outside of New York City.  Snider says the school’s academic reputation and proximity to one of the world’s greatest municipalities were big draws off the ice.

“To be so close to New York is exciting because there are so many opportunities,” he explained. “To be able to get a great education and have a chance to seek internships, jobs, and everything else New York has to offer is especially attractive.”

Snider says his experiences in junior hockey have helped ready him for the rigors of collegiate ice and academia.

“There’s a lot of balancing of your time when you’re playing juniors,” he added. “You have to be able to keep up with hockey, school, work – and everything else in your life. It’s important to be able to perform that balancing act and be successful in all those areas.  Hopefully, this has helped to prepare me for what comes next.”

The Manhattanville hockey program has developed into one of the NCAA’s most prolific since initiating the sport in 1999.  The Valiants have had just one losing season (1999-2000), advanced to four NCAA Div. III tourneys, and won five ECAC conference titles.  Over the past seven seasons, Manhattanville has amassed an otherworldly 131-38-18 (.749) record.  Snider says a slew of people have helped him reach the collegiate level.

“There have been a lot of coaches who have helped make me a better player and person over the years,” he said. “And the entire North Stars organization has been great in getting me to the next level.  And anyone who grows up playing hockey probably has a lot of support at home.  My family has been extremely supportive since I was a kid, and I owe them a great deal of gratitude for all they’ve done. I simply wouldn’t be where I am without them.”