Edmonton Sun
Mon, December 27, 2004
Unlucky 13 for Robbie
He's lighting up the OHL, but Oiler draft pick is 13th forward for U.S.
By JIM CRESSMAN, SUN MEDIA
GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Dan Fritsche knows how Robbie Schremp feels right now. Fritsche went through this last year with the U.S. team at the world junior hockey championship - sitting on the bench after spending the first 2 1/2 months of the season in the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Schremp, an Edmonton Oilers draft pick, came to the 2005 world juniors leading the OHL in goals with 26, and power-play goals with 15, while sitting third overall with 51 points for the London Knights. But here he's the 13th forward.
Saturday night, in the defending champions' opener against Russia, Schremp got two shifts, both on power plays, and scored on his first at 3:15 of the second period. The U.S. won 5-4 with Fritsche, of the Sarnia Sting, scoring twice.
It was a huge victory for the Americans as Russia is likely their toughest opponent in the round robin.
But Schremp wants to play a role and it's easy to see he's not pleased.
"It's tough when you're not on a line, so I'm just filling in on different drills," he said after yesterday's practice. "It's an honour to be here, but it's tough not playing much. But it's happened before (benched by Knights coach Dale Hunter during last season's Western Conference final), so I know how to deal with it.
"All I can do is work hard in practice and hopefully take advantage of my opportunities."
U.S. head coach Scott Sandelin, with the University of Minnesota-Duluth, is using Chris Bourque ahead of Schremp on the power play and Bourque has only three goals at Boston University.
"Coming in here we felt Robbie could be a power-play guy for us and right now that's kind of his role," Sandelin said.
"That role can change as the tournament goes on."
Fritsche was in a similar situation last season, playing on the fourth at the beginning, then his ice time increased.
"With Robbie leading the OHL in goals, he would think, and everyone would think, he'd have a much bigger role," he said.
"Right now Robbie's being a good sport about it. He's not saying much."