Career
AHL)
Schnell played in the United States Hockey League and a season in the Ontario Hockey League with the Saginaw Spirit before he turned professional at the age of 20, and played the 2009-2010 season with the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL. He would go on to play a total of 96 games with the Nailers over two seasons, totaling five goals, six assists, and 331 penalty minutes. Schnell also appeared in 11 American Hockey League games during the 2010-2011 season, scoring 2 goals and posting 37 minutes in penalties. Schnell started the 2011-2012 season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, but skated in only three games, registering no points and six penalty minutes, before being sent down on loan to rejoin the Wheeling Nailers.
Six days later, on November 14, he was returned to Wilkes-Barre.
Schnell signed as a free agent to a one-year deal with the Saint John"s IceCaps of the AHL on July 5, 2012. On July 2, 2014, Schnell returned to his homestate Illinois, in signing as a free agent to a one-year deal with the Rockford IceHogs.
On August 30, 2015, after 108 games in the AHL and without an contract offer, Schnell retired from professional hockey and announced a new career as a commercial broker.