Gongshow Exclusive 1 on 1 Interview with Rob Schremp (Original)

Blog — By CrowNasty on December 14, 2011 12:47 PM

Crow: You won rookie of the year for Mississauga in 2003, then got traded to London the following season. What was that first taste of Canadian hockey like?

Schrempy: It was an eye opener. Junior hockey is so huge in Canada and to play in front of 9000 people was such an adrenaline rush. My first taste was in Mississauga, and that was a great set up as far as the coaching staff and management, but it didn’t have the atmosphere like London.

Crow: You were apart of the greatest junior hockey team ever, winning the Memorial Cup in 2005 with the Knights. Explain the team and what memories you have of the season.

Schrempy: The team was amazing in every sense. from on the ice as far as playing with guys like Corey Perry (Pears), David Bolland (Bols), Danny Syvret (Syvy), and Brandon Prust (Prusty); the list goes on as far as talent. The best part of that season other then winning was the group of guys that we had and how well we clicked off the ice. We had the best players on the ice and the biggest beauties off it.

Crow: Best off-ice story from that season?

Schrempy: Hmmm, probably shouldn’t tell you anything too dirty, haha. One night Bols and I were in cleaning the bar with the staff members, and it turned into an all out brawl with Bols and I wacking eachother with the brooms and chasing eachother around the whole bar. We went to take it outside, and when I went out the back door, I hit the metal grate and went ass and feet in the air right on my elbow.

Crow: We’ll call it an “upper-body” injury. If you weren’t a pro hockey player, you would be…

Schrempy: Something involving marketing for hockey players.

Crow: Favourite hockey movie?

Schrempy: Youngblood

Crow: Biggest pest and chirper in the show?

Schrempy: It’s always the same answer: Sean Avery. But he never bugged me…hes a hard nosed player who, when he’s affective, gets a lot of guys off of their games.

Crow: Interesting you say Avery, he seems to be the consensus from other players. What’s your personal opinion of him?

Schrempy: He’s a good guy away from the rink from what I hear. He’s really smart in the sense of marketing himself and the game of hockey. Some people might not agree with what he does but sometimes a guy like Sean brings attention to the game just from his quotes, almost in the same sense as Allen Iverson for the NBA.

Crow: Toughest guy in hockey?

Schrempy: I think Prust, even though he’s a really good friend. If you look up his fight card over the past 3 seasons, and even further back than that, you will see that Prusty’s fought and done well against some really big guys that out weigh him by 30 to 40 pounds, and have about 5 inches reach on him. Then when he fights his own class the middle weight class I’m not sure I’ve seen him lose one. And to add to it he’s a really good player that can play 15 minutes a night and kill penalties, not just 5 to 7 and sit on the bench.

Crow: (other than yourself) Who has the best hands in hockey?

Schremp: Connolly, Datsyuk, and of course Crosby.

Crow: Best chirp you’ve ever said to an opponent?

Schrempy: Not much of a chirper, but a solid one is when a plug gets on the ice, to ask if the coach knows he’s out there.

Crow: Pre-game meal? Superstitions?

Schrempy: The standard pasta and chicken. I like to mix in a coke as well. No real superstitions.

Crow: You live in London during the off-season, what’s a typical day like?

Schrempy: Wake up, make breakfast, hit the gym or the ice, then usually go to the golf course at Forest City National.

Crow: We Londoners are proud of our downtown bar scene, what’s your favourite spot on Richmond Row?

Schrempy: Tough call. Joe Kools or Barney’s on the patio.

Crow: Compare playing hockey in North America and in Europe?

Schrempy: Depends on where you play in North America. In Europe, the fans are chanting the whole game. They literally don’t sit down the entire game. It’s like a college football atmosphere.

Crow: Best roommate and prank?

Schrempy: Best roomy would be Freddy Meyer or Bruno Gervais. I haven’t really played with any pranksters, but my old coach Dale Hunter was a prank guy, always cutting our socks or ties.

Crow: Hockey Fights says you have one fight during your career — your rookie year with Mississauga… why no tillys?

Schrempy: I guess I’m just a likable guy haha.

Crow: Favourite road barn to play at?

Schrempy: Chicago or Montreal.

Crow: Skoal, Grizzly, or Copenhagen?

Schrempy: Skoal Mint

Crow: Favourite team and player growing up?

Schrempy: Never really had a team, probably the Rangers if I had to choose. I loved Mark Messier and Mike Richter.

Crow: Of the three teams you played for in the show (Edmonton, NY Islanders, Atlanta), which had the best nightlife?

Schrempy: Atlanta. Didn’t go out too much, but the music scene there is pretty unreal.

Crow: Favourite game of your career?

Schrempy: Either the game against Boston where I scored my first career goal, or against Colorado where I scored the baseball style goal.

Crow: How unreal was it to represent the U.S. at the World Juniors?

Schrempy: It was an awesome experience. One of the biggest honors forsure.

Crow: Weirdest thing you ever signed?

Schrempy: A baby.

Crow: Why is hockey the greatest sport in the world?

Schrempy: It’s the fastest game on the planet. Because of stuff like fighting and hitting, you need so many different skills to play at a high level.

Crow: Explain the brotherhood of hockey and the bonds you’ve created over the years.

Schrempy: A lot of hockey players leave home at such a young age that you meet so many different people and make so many bonds with other guys in the same situation. I have friends all over the world thanks to this game.