Schremp determined to make the Oilers next fall

From Joanne Ireland of the Edmonton Journal:

So when he was advised by team officials that he needs to be stronger and fitter and faster if he is going to move up from the farm team in Springfield, Mass., Schremp made a commitment to spend much of the off-season under the tutelage of Chad Moreau, the Oilers strength and conditioning consultant.

"That's what they want from me, so that's what I'm going to do," the centre said. "My core and legs feel great already and it's only June. You can see it works. You see it in guys like Jarret Stoll and (Shawn) Horcoff and Ethan Moreau. Those guys are animals.

"I just hope it pays off." Another draft day is fast approaching, which means the spotlight will soon shift to the next first-rounder being selected by the Oilers. Barring a pre-draft deal, Edmonton has the 22nd pick on Friday in Ottawa.

Read the entire article here.

Schremp is our guy here at Illegal Curve. He had a terrific year in the AHL in 2007/08 and is determined to make the NHL club next season.

Here are Illegal Curve's six in-season interviews with Schremp:

Schremp's sixth entry.
Schremp's fifth entry.
Schremp's fourth entry.
Schremp's third entry.
Schremp's second entry.
Schremp's first entry.

Life in Pro Hockey with Rob Schremp (Sixth Entry)

Note: Periodically throughout the season, Oilers' prospect and current Springfield Falcons' winger Rob Schremp will provide Illegal Curve readers with a unique insight into the world of professional hockey.

For Rob's sixth entry, Rob has agreed to answer some questions recapping his season with Springfield and previewing his off-season plans.

Here is the interview:

Illegal Curve: Springfield narrowly missed the playoffs this year. What do you feel the team could have done better?

Rob: That is tough to say; I think we played really hard all the way through the end of the season. I have to say that there was not a single game that we did not compete in.

Illegal Curve: Your all around game has made significant strides this year. What do you credit for that success?

Rob: I would have to attribute that to another year of being around experienced veterans and good coaching. The last two seasons I have played with both of those and I think my game has made strides.

Illegal Curve: Are you 100% healthy heading into the off-season?

Rob: Yes I am.

Illegal Curve: What are your summer training plans?

Rob: I really want to focus on working on my explosiveness. As well, I would like to work on my overall strength.

Illegal Curve: Obama or Hillary?

Rob: Hillary.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Richard Pollock.

Here are Rob's past five entries:

Schremp's fifth entry.
Schremp's fourth entry.
Schremp's third entry.
Schremp's second entry.
Schremp's first entry.

Life in Pro Hockey with Rob Schremp (Fifth Entry)

Note: Periodically throughout the season, Oilers' prospect and current Springfield Falcons' winger Rob Schremp will provide Illegal Curve readers with a unique insight into the world of professional hockey.

For Rob's fifth entry, Rob has agreed to answer some questions about his team heading into the final few games of the AHL season.

Here is the interview:

Illegal Curve: With the big club (Edmonton Oilers) playing a run-and-gun style and succeeding, how much of that has filtered down to Springfield?

Rob: I don't think it really has. We play more of a chip-and-chase style down here.

Illegal Curve: Give us your impressions of Slava Truknho, who has been playing on your line recently.

Rob: Slava is awesome. He has great vision and is really strong on the puck; so all you really have to do is get open, and he finds you.

Illegal Curve: Going into this off-season, how are you going to prepare yourself for Oilers training camp?

Rob: This summer will be a lot better than last summer. That's because I will have the whole summer to train; whereas last summer I did not get to train until late July because of my knee injury.

Illegal Curve: The Falcons are in tight to make the playoffs. Do you foresee a late season push that will see you secure a spot?

Rob: We have a good young team, so I think this last push will be good for us for preparing for the post-season. Basically every game from now on will be like a playoff game because we need to win these games.

Illegal Curve: As an offensive player, who has impressed you the most out of Springfield's defensemen?

Rob: T.J. Kemp has been our best offensive defenseman this season.

Thanks, Rob.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Richard Pollock.

Here are Rob's past entries to Illegal Curve:

Schremp's fourth entry.
Schremp's third entry.
Schremp's second entry.
Schremp's first entry.

News You Can Use Late in the Day

1. Wicked Wrister profiles the 10 Hottest Hockey Wives/Girlfriends. Note the extensive Oiler representation. Perhaps all those shoulder injuries are from overexertion?
2. Coach Dwight McMillan of the Weyburn Red Wings (SJHL) gets his 1000th regular season victory.
3. EJ Hradek says the Rangers are on a roll.
4. The weekly power rankings from Inside College Hockey.
5. TSN looks at possible deadline moves to be made by the six Canadian franchises.
6. Shawn "Scorecoff" Horcoff is done for the season after a shoulder injury.
7. Canadiens send Halak down, call Price up.
8. Mike Sillinger is out with a hip injury, so the Islanders have recalled 3 players from Bridgeport.
9. The Oilers see Robbie Schremp as a "Harlem Globetrotter type of kid". Not quite as Harlem Globetrotter as say, Anson "Potsie" Carter, but pretty close.
10. Colin Stuart is trying to make his mark in Atlanta.
11. Mike Morreale previews 6 games you should watch this week.
12. Who's Hot and Who's Not in the CHL.
13. Spector with a comprehensive run-down of all the current trade rumours.
14. Winnipeg makes the short list to host the 2010 World Junior Tournament.
15. In a move that alters the recruiting landscape, the OHL hosts a tournament for US Midget teams.
16. New blog Puckthathit with an interesting look at the cost per save analysis for NHL goalies.
17. In what has to be the most boring hockey story of the day, the NHLPA has hired an accountant. Wow, big day for HR Block.
18. Scott Burnside says Brian Burke would be the perfect choice for the US Olympic Hockey team in 2010. Watch for Kevin Lowe to sign Patrick Kane to a big offer sheet to get the Maple Leaf on his chest.
19. Darren Eliot may be the only guy left who still likes the instigator rule.
20. Dan Pollard, who must have wandered into a gay bar, says its time to address hits from behind.
21. An installment from Jaroslav Modry's blog in which he discusses the trade deadline.
22. Since its a blogtastic day, check out what Jamie McClennan has to say from Japan.
23. The Hockey News blog with a good thought, eliminate no-trade clauses.
24. The Winkler Flyers are built on diversity.
25. Fanhouse with a humourous look at the clinical depression suffered by Oiler fans.

Life in Pro Hockey with Rob Schremp (Fourth Entry)

Note: Periodically throughout the season, Oilers' prospect and current Springfield Falcons' winger Rob Schremp will provide Illegal Curve readers with a unique insight into the world of professional hockey.

For Rob's fourth entry, he agreed to answer a Q & A about his time at the AHL All-Star Game.

Here is the interview:

Illegal Curve: Hey Rob, how would you describe your experience in Binghamton last weekend for the AHL All-Star Game?

Rob: It was a lot of fun and just a really big honor to be there.

Illegal Curve: Do you feel like some of the guys in the AHL All-Star Game have been overlooked by NHL teams?

Rob: I think a lot of the guys who were at the game are in the same boat as me. Most of the AHL teams are just trying to develop these guys and want to make sure they are ready to take the next step into the NHL.

Illegal Curve: What were your thoughts on the NHL's "attempt" to have a shootout contest?

Rob: I thought it was pretty cool, but at the same time it is a lot different than a basketball slam dunk contest; just because ball players are doing all that creative stuff everyday on the court. In hockey, you wont see too many guys in practice trying to use a lacrosse style move or throwing the puck up and doing a 360.

Illegal Curve: How often would you say you practice the shootout move that you pulled at the AHL skills competition over the weekend?

Rob: I like to play around after practice, but never during.

Illegal Curve: Do you think the NHL should invite creative puck-handlers such as yourself to participate in their breakaway contest next season?

Rob: No I don't. If I'm not actually in the NHL and haven't been invited to the All-Star Game because of my on-ice play, then definitely not.

Illegal Curve: Finally, what are your personal expectations for the remainder of the AHL season?

Rob: I would like to stay at the top of the scoring leaders and maybe even try to move up a bit. In saying that, I'd like my improved play to help us climb the standings and try to improve on our playoff positioning.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Richard Pollock.

Schremp's third entry.
Schremp's second entry.
Schremp's first entry.

Rob Schremp Shootout Goal

Throughout the year Rob Schremp has contributed to Illegal Curve by giving readers an inside look at life in the AHL. Rob's fourth contribution to the site will be posted in the next day or two, but for now, just sit back and enjoy this goal that Rob scored at AHL All-Star Game over the weekend.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Richard Pollock.

Thanks to HockeyTubeV1 for posting it on YouTube.

Life in Pro Hockey with Rob Schremp (Third Entry)

Note: Periodically throughout the season, Oilers' prospect and current Springfield Falcons' winger Rob Schremp will provide Illegal Curve readers with a unique insight into the world of professional hockey.

For Rob's third entry, he agreed to another quick Q & A about his season thus far.

Here is the interview:

Illegal Curve: Hey Rob. The first thing we wanted to ask you is how have you enjoyed the move to Left Wing?

Rob: I have adjusted to playing the wing pretty well. It was hard at first because you always want to creep down in your own zone and help your teammates out but the key is to keep your own coverage because if you don't everything gets all messed up.

Illegal Curve: You are currently in the Top 10 in AHL scoring; as a result, have you set winning the AHL scoring championship as one of your end of season goals?

Rob: It is something that I would like to achieve and it is a goal that is well within my reach. I just need to stay consistent every night if I am going to stay up there with players like Marty St. Pierre and Teddy Purcell.

Illegal Curve: It is said that every young player needs to work on their defensive game and we at Illegal Curve were wondering what adjustments have you made to your defensive game over the course of the season?

Rob: Nothing too big really. I just try to keep my focus on communicating and making sure I take care of my responsibilities before I try to help out in other areas.

Illegal Curve: With a call up only a phone call away, do you consistently keep an eye on the Oilers during the course of the season?

Rob: My roomate Danny Syvret and I watch a lot of games on the Center Ice package; which is pretty good seeing as how they rarely show NHL games on regular cable in the U.S. I do keep an eye on the Oilers just to see who is hurt or if there is a possibility of a call up. Also, I like to watch my buddies like Gilby (Tom Gilbert) and Nilsson (Robert Nilsson).

Illegal Curve: With the aforementioned possibility of a call up, do you have any kind of timeline for when you expect to be called up to the NHL?

Rob: No because you can never really know when, or if, you are going to get called up. If I were to set a timeline for myself, I think it would be more of a distraction than anything. I'd probably be thinking about it all the time; instead, I just focus on taking care of what I need to do here in Springfield.

Illegal Curve: Finally, for something a little fun. If you could pick two linemates from your hockey career, past or present, who would they be and why?

Rob: That is a tough question. I'd have to say Robert Nilsson just because of the chemistry we had together last season in Wilkes-Barre. I would have to pick two other ones and they would be Drew Larman and Dan Fritsche who were both my linemates in London (OHL) the season we won the Memorial Cup.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Richard Pollock.
(www.illegalcurve@gmail.com)

Rob's Second Entry.
Rob's First Entry.

Life in Pro Hockey with Rob Schremp (Second Entry)

Note: Periodically throughout the season, Oilers' prospect and current Springfield Falcons' winger Rob Schremp will provide Illegal Curve readers with a unique insight into the world of professional hockey.

For the second entry, we are going to do a Q & A with Rob about his season in Springfield so far.

Here are five quick questions with Rob Schremp:

Richard: How do you enjoy playing for Kelly Buchberger as a head coach?

Rob: This year has been great with Bucky he has given my some freedom to be creative and make offensive plays but still makes sure that I am good in my own end.

Richard: What part of your game would you say needs the most work right now?

Rob: I'd say probably my speed needs to improve, as far as my first three strides are concerned.

Richard: How have you enjoying running the powerplay in Springfield?

Rob: The power play has been something that I have been known for ever since I played for Dale Hunter in London. So running the powerplay in Springfield is something that is expected of me and is a big part of my game.

Richard: Would you say it has helped the team to have all of the Oilers' prospects playing on one team in the AHL this season, as opposed to having players play on multiple teams last season?

Rob: I think it benefits our team just because it gives us a chance to develop some chemistry with one other and maybe form some future line combinations.

Richard: Lastly, who has been the best player you have come up against in the AHL this season and why?

Rob: I would say that has to be Gabe Gauthier from Manchester. He always makes plays with the puck and he is always a good option for his linemates.