EP8 Rob Schremp - Hockey - NHL

This is the Empowered Athlete podcast, episode eight. What does it take to truly make it in the sporting world? It's a mix of talent, desire, access to coaching, and if you're a hockey player, unlimited ice time. Imagine having all of those ingredients put together so that you've got an agent by the time you're 12 years old and are under the microscope of hockey in Canada.

We're going to be talking to Rob Schremp and we love this guy. He's so great to be with. He's so fun to be around and talk to and so, so talented. With a background of hard work and tons of reps, he's a wizard with the puck and the stick. It's worth googling this guy to see what he looks like on the ice. You'll love Rob's story. From the grassroots to the pros, here we go.

Let me take you back to the summer of 2008. I hadn't qualified for the Olympics again, but it was my first summer not playing for the national team. I had it off. And I got to train the entire summer with Kari on a specifically made program that was tailored to me, my injuries, my body and my goals for that next upcoming season. And I was 34 years old. Well, the result went back over to Turkey and won a European cup in incredible physical condition. Thank you to that program setting me up for the perfect season. Well, now you have access to the exact same thing. Hit email ksempowerconditioning.com that's KS for Kari Schneider. And get started on one of Kari's incredible online training programs. The program is tailored to you. It has video of each exercise you're doing so you know what you're doing. Your reps are like the sets are laid out. You can't go wrong. Reach out now to reach your best.

Welcome to the Empowered Athlete podcast, created to support athletes in their pursuit of excellence and inspire others toward their best lives. Hosted by Kari Schneider, coach to top performers in sport and life, and Paul Durden, former national and professional volleyball player.

Hello, everyone and welcome to the Empowered Athlete Podcast. I'm Paul Durden, co hosting alongside Kari Schneider, and we are excited fired up for today's episode because we have Rob Schremp joining us. Rob, how are you doing?

Great. Thanks for having me on, guys.

We're so excited to have you, Rob. It's been a while since we've been able to chat with you and the cool thing about this is that we can just kind of catch up and have a conversation and the way we want to get into it is tell a little bit about your story, about how you grew up a little bit, how you got interested in hockey. For people listening who may not know, you know, you are a hockey player of immense talent. Talent.

And.

Yeah. So what. What started you off growing up?

My uncle was coaching my cousin. My two cousins, Chris and Jeff plays. So me and my brother were a bit younger than both of them. So we watched them kind of in high school, and that was kind of where that intrigue came in, because my dad was more of a basketball player. And, yes, that's how we got into it, my brother and I, and then played through Fulton Youth hockey all the way up till I was, like, 10, and then just kind of played like. I don't know. I guess you can call it travel. But it wasn't like, AAA hockey, like, anywhere around Fulton. You are kind of like Camillus and these little small towns. And then when I was, like, 11, I grew like a monster. I was like, 5, 9, 160 pounds, like 11 years old, and I scored, like, a million goals in peewee.

So you must have been bigger than all the other kids at that age. Yeah.

And then the other unique thing that I had was being in Fulton, New York, is I got to use the rink at my fence, kind of. Don Kernan was the owner of the rink, and the rink was, like, four blocks, five blocks from my house. I used to spend 10 hours a day there. And he said, anytime there's open ice, you're more than willing to use it. So he was very generous and very inspirational and pivotal to whatever happened with my career. And his son, Donnie Kernan Jr. Taught me how to shoot. So I grew up there. That's.

That's a big thing to say right there. If anybody's seen you shoot and handle a puck, that. That's a big deal. So what. What? Like, how can you emphasize the importance of having access to the rink? Because I think of players now and just know that they just. We don't have that. It's. It's. Having a rink is a. Is a premium, and it's hard to get ice time, and you're competing with all kinds of other levels of sport. And so to have that ice time whenever you wanted. What do you think that did for you?

It was huge. It was a big thing for me. I spent. I mean, I used every minute of it, too. I used to go on the ice and take the nets off with the Zamboni. I'd be shooting puck while I was doing that, like Then I literally used every minute of it. So it was. I mean, that's what I wanted to do. I was not being forced. My parents had to take my skates away from me because I would go to the rink for literally eight, ten hours a day. My feet would be swollen because I didn't have right size skates. But I didn't care. That was like my passion. So it was. I don't know if. Yeah, I guess the rink was my. What I used and it could have been any other sport. I just got obsessed with hockey.

Were you doing other sports though, as a kid? Yeah, I played with that, like, because it sounds. It sounds like you started a little late with hockey.

Yeah, I played every sport, you know, just got to a point. Sounds really hard to say. But like I was. I kind of was advanced at all the sport. Like I'd play lacrosse and I had like four or five goals a game. And then I get kind of. Guys be mad because I. I wouldn't pass as much. So then I was like, okay, this, you know, that's not much fun. Then played baseball and like I'd hit a home run whenever I got a pitch. And then if I played, made a play in the field, like I just was advanced. Like I throw it too hard. And that was, that wasn't fun. It wasn't challenging. So then I started playing hockey in the summer and we go to play Canada and that was talent. You play against all the best players. That was fun because, you know, there's other guys that were doing what I was doing in hockey. Like David Bolan was in Toronto and Evan McGrath and all these guys that are my age. It was going up against those guys that was competitive. So it was fun. Like the other sports ran out.

For me, it was that first time you could actually feel challenged versus being the best. Because it's that thing that we say to the kids. Sometimes you're better off being the worst of the best than being the best of the worst, because you're never going to grow if you're the best of the worst. It's really hard to get better or feel challenged or feel pushed and. And that's where you finally got that push.

Absolutely. I mean, you can get so comfortable. I mean, playing where I was playing, I was scoring like five goals a game.

So I needed.

Gets boring.

I mean, also it gets like. It just kind of. Some people get frustrated. You know, parents got frustrated. It was kind of uncomfortable sometimes too. Like people just.

Yeah, because they want their. They want their kid to get More ice time.

I mean, that sucks. I'm just out there having fun. These people like, yelling from the stands, like, come on, man.

Yeah, yeah.

It's like. What do you mean?

Hockey parents don't yell.

What are you talking about?

Yeah, yeah.

It's never gonna go away either. I mean, there's no.

Yeah, there's no. It's fun to yell at preteens. Why not yell at preteens as adults?

Right?

Like, wake up.

I hated it. It didn't make me feel comfortable, but I kind of just kind of use it for. Oh, sorry.

That's okay.

3D. I'm on the podcast.

Hey, a great segue. I think you've got some big news there.

Yeah. Yeah. And there's my baby girl, Stella, seven months old.

Oh, that's amazing. That's such a great age, too, because they just start to interact so much and start moving around so much.

Yeah, she's got a personality. She smiles a ton and she's, like, just about to crawl. So it's like every day is kind of an adventure waiting for that.

Oh, my God.

Fantastic. Yeah. It's been the best ever, so I love it.

You're gonna have your phone out constantly to you. Like, I gotta film this. I gotta film this.

You get more megabytes. It's crazy.

That's right. So what happened from there? You ended up, like, what was your transition into the ohl?

So it was also, like, very beneficial. Like, guy down Kern. I mean, he was huge. My whole life. But then in junior, when I was 12 years old, I was playing. I played Bantams and then I played Banhams, and I played my own age and went to, like, Trinity, Quebec. I went there twice. That was pretty cool. That tournament was unreal. It was just so big and all the, like, trading pins and trading hockey cards. It was really cool.

Is that where your eyes kind of opened up to go, hey, like, I want more of this?

Yeah. Yeah. It was really. It was really cool. It was like we were playing in front of 10, 12, 000 people. It was neat at 12 years old and that building, the Coliseum, or I'll say is. I mean, it's like the fans are right over the top. You. It's a unique building. It's almost like the. The Joe Louis Arena. I mean, that's. That's how that was. It was really steep and, like, it felt like the fans right on top of you. And at 12 years old, that was biggest stage by far that I'd been on.

And that lit you up. Hey, like some people would be afraid of that, but that's cool.

And there was like, my second year, there was a lot of notoriety and stuff. They're writing a lot of articles and made it kind of a big deal about coming there. So there was a bit of like, light coming into it. They wrote a really bizarre article. Looking back at it now, it's fun.

How so? Like, they were. Was there a lot of. A lot of pressure or a lot of like, what was the.

Yeah, they wrote an article comparing me to Gretzky and Lemieux when I was like 12. When they were the same age.

Yeah, Yeah.

I stuff gum.

And what do you think that did at the time? Or maybe later, that kind of media attention or that kind of pressure?

I didn't like it. I really. When I was younger because it made a lot of people look towards me and like, then really. I don't know. It's not always with that age, guys chirping and all this and that, you know, kind of jealousy goes along. It's. I didn't want it. I didn't ask to do that, you know, so it's kind of weird. It's always. I always had that kind of feeling about hockey, like that just kind of painted with a certain brush and then it's just how it goes. I mean, that's started really at like. Well, yeah.

Yeah. How old were you when you got your. You had an agent? Pretty young too.

Yeah, like, I mean, I was going up to dinner when I was 12 with like, I mean, pretty big name agents. They were. Yeah, very big agents.

And if you look back now, like, hindsight's 20 20. Do you. Do you wish things were different than they were or.

I don't know. Everything shapes you. The way it goes. I don't know. There's no regret or anything like that. Just at the time. That's the way it goes. I mean, it was pretty cool in the sense that I was in a small kid in Fulton, New York. Like that. That's a small.

Yeah.

And it's not really much drive in the sense of athletics. Just kind of like more towards high school and then maybe try to get to college. Like, I went to another level. Like I was getting level, like world recognition when I was like 12. That was. I mean, that really achieved something. But you're not. I mean, I'm only 12 and whatever. I guess it's not that big a deal, but. I don't know. I got pretty freaking good.

Yeah. Yeah. And how. How was that. How was that transition to the London Knights?

Yeah. Well, then. Well, then I played juniors in Syracuse for Don Curtin again. So then I got to stay with him. I got four ice time, and then I got drafted first overall to Mississauga. And then I went to Mississauga, played a year there. And then the management changed going into my draft year, and it was very bizarre things happening there, and it was uncomfortable. So I. I asked for a trade to get out of there and went to London, and then the rest was history. Got to play for Dale and we won a championship there. It was. It was good. Yeah. I really. I mean, the city was crazy. It was like playing the NHL. It was. My experience in London was almost. It was a little bit better than my NHL one because the fans were coming every night. In London. I played in. Really, my only time was in Long island, and Atlanta wasn't really. The buildings weren't packed like that kind of energy London had.

But there was the new. The new arena in London at that time as well.

Yeah. And that's when the. Yeah, the. The JLC was hopping, like, every single night. It was. It was crazy. It was Dale Hunter and Mark Hunter, like, some of the smartest people in hockey. The way they built it.

They did it. They did it right.

Hey, oh, my God. But they do. They built it. I mean, they really did. Through draft picks and trades. That's not easy. And the right pieces together. And it was. It was a phenomenal picture. What they painted before.

I'm going to back up just a tiny bit before. Before the Memorial Cup. But when you first had to move away, you know, there's a lot of any. Any young athlete with a ton of talent, whether they're going to a national team or they're going to training camps, or they end up moving away and getting bulleted, depending on what sport it is. You know, you had to leave home and move away from your parents. How old were you? And, like, what was that like for you or your parents? Like, did that. Was that pretty traumatic for you? Was it pretty smooth? Like, what was it? What were you feeling at that time?

Yeah, it was. I was always, like, driven for hockey. Like, I almost went and played on David Boland's team when I was 12 years, 11 years old. They. We played against each other in a weekend little thing, and then the coaches offered to have me come bill it with him, stay and play in Toronto. Rob Van Olings was his name, and I wanted to go. At the time, my parents, like, you were out of your mind.

They weren't Quite bought in yet?

No. And I. I don't know. I've driven, you know, like, then nothing bothered me. I don't care if it takes him. Yeah. Being homesick sucked, but I had, like. Every day it would just think about hockey and, like, driven to hockey. So I didn't really think. Hockey was always kind of, like, what my mind was on. So that's what was important to me at the time. And it was not really that hard for me to be awake. My parents came up a lot, and that's. That was the first thing. That was the first. When I got drafted at the organization, made sure my parents could come against. So fine. Like, just certain things to help them get there and stay the night. And then those things kind of got revoked next year. So it was, like, really hard because then my parents wouldn't be able to come up as much. So that was comforting. Cause my parents were very. Yeah, they came on my sister. Brothers and sisters, hoping they could, and they were very supportive and. And that made it not that hard to be away. I mean, it's only three. You know, some of the trips are only three hours from my home. Like, Colton, New York is like an hour and a half to Kingston, and then, you know, Ottawa's right there, and then Toronto's three and a half hours. So they have to come to a bunch of stuff.

Yeah. Yeah, that makes a huge difference. Cause then you, you know, you get the. You. You're busy throughout the week. You got practice, it's game, game time. You get to see them briefly, but you get that after game kind of dinner, and that kind of.

That gives you comfort. And you're not away. You're not away. I mean, when I. When I was living at home, I wasn't home one day. I wasn't home at all. I was at the Right.

So it was no different.

Yeah. I didn't barely spend any time at home. I played Terry Jr. When I was 14 and in Syracuse. So we played. We had a team out of Syracuse and we played out of the Ontario Provincial League. So we were in Ontario every weekend. We'd leave Friday. I missed more Fridays. I think I might have broke. I really did. But, you know, like I said, I was. I know it's probably not the best advice, but I was driven and that's what I wanted to do. And I was. I mean, I led the league that year for goals, so it was. I was doing well. Not like I was gambling on nothing.

Yeah.

Was there any pressure from your parents on the school side of Things to keep up your studies. And with my dad, he was an associate dean of engineering at Western and a very smart man. And I know. Well, you know, I never really had the real true. Talk about how he felt about it when I went to the national team at 18 and left and stopped school. But with your parents seeing you so often, were they checking in on your schooling? Was it. Or were they just kind of let you run as far as you could with it?

Yeah. What were they like with school? We were trying to stay with the school. I mean, they made me do my homework and get to the classes when I was. Yeah, I just missed a lot of Fridays and, like, we just kind of have to talk to the teachers. And I'm like, listen, I mean, this is really important. I don't know, like, can you help me out?

Well, especially once you. Once you come to London, there, you know, there's a lot of support that way. Once you're into the program with the nights.

Yeah, so that was part of that. And it was. We were playing a lot of hockey and a lot of things were going on. Like I said, we're meeting with, you know, head agent stuff and had all these people coming around and a lot of, you know, talking, going the ohl, yada, yada, yada. So there was a lot of, like, busyness going on at those years. Like, I don't know.

So was the. Was it the Memorial cup that was the highlight of your time with the Knights or what? What was kind of the. The most memorable part of it all?

Yeah, I think. Yeah. Memcup was the. You know, that was pinnacle. But, I mean, so many great things, Billets and stuff. We had Tim and Trish Harrison, and I had my Billets and Jay and Chris Rays, and I also stayed with the Barbers, Gail and Greg Barber. That's just. These people that I met in London were, like, phenomenal. I just had so many good friendships there. And, like, it was such a cool. I don't know, it felt really good to be there. Like, all the players felt like it was a home to them, you know. Yeah. So it was the way the city embraced every. All the guys, you know, did a lot of autograph stuff, which was cool because you get to interact and, you know, I don't know, make friendships out of that kind of stuff. So it was neat. I really enjoyed that time. And it was. You're young and you feel, you know, 10,000 people at every game, just such a good buzz. It was cool. Everything about it was cool.

And, you know, what's really important that I'm interested to hear. We're going to obviously follow your career a bit, but spoiler alert, you do go to play in Europe. That's where I spent my year playing professionally. And a huge thing for me was the professionalism of the club and how they took care of me away from the court. It had a huge influence on my stress level, how I'm able to perform. And it sounds like the Knights obviously have that component of it figured out. It sounds like you're in fantastic hands, great billets, you're supported in every way possible. So it's a winning environment because they seem to understand that the off ice things need to be in place to get the on ice result. But I know as this conversation progresses today, I want to hear about your experiences, clubs in that regard, off the ice in Europe later on. But from a London perspective, sounds like it's a big check mark.

Yeah, they're great about it and they want everybody to. It's all about performing and it's. I think they, you know, I think. I know all they want to do is win, so that's important. And they put up. They want a good product. There's also, you know, on top of being smart with the hockey side, they're also. It's a business as well. It's entertaining to watch the London nights on a Friday night. They usually have electric players and there's, you know, they're usually in the game. They always have a winning percentage. It's. It's crazy.

Take us, take us forward. So you. What was it like for the Memorial cup for you? Like it was that. Were you just on top of the world?

Yeah, it was a great time and the city was buzzing and we really had a great. It was right from the beginning of that year because the year before we lost in the semifinals, the Guelphs. And it was like devastating because we really. We should have. We thought in our hearts we should have beat them and it would have been kind of a. It was like whoever won that series was going to the Cup. We thought we were. Either team was better than the Eastern side.

So we were kind of redemption came.

In the next year and we just went gun plays like 31 games undefeated. Like just.

That's insane.

Teams too, like beating teams bad, you know, like everybody was scoring. Like Corey Perry was lighting up the ball and lighting it up. Who else was going? We had. Yeah, I had 41 goals. I had on the power play. Trustee was. Everybody scored, like had big numbers. It was fun. You know, it was such a cool atmosphere and it didn't matter. We had two power plays that were both like 40% either side. It's like scary.

It's crazy.

That's unheard of. You know, whatever it was, it was really unique. And then the way, like I said with all the other stuff, you add the offlight stuff to that, like, I don't know. There's not. That's a pretty good recipe.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So what happened after that?

I got drafted by. Actually I got drafted by Edmonton before the MEM cup year. Yeah, that's right.

In the first round.

Yeah, I got first round 25th overall.

Which is a pretty huge deal.

Yeah, it was. I was actually kind of a little like disappointing at the time. I was supposed to go higher and it was like a big controversy draft. I don't know, I just like. It was really weird. But anyways, it was. It was what it was. And then they had like cameras like on it the whole time. It was really. I felt awkward.

Yeah. Yeah.

Kind of like people like, why? I don't know. I was supposed to rank higher. It just was like falling and then. I don't know. It's really bizarre. So we get drafted and then. Yep. Went to Edmonton and that was. I was there for four years, I think with the organization. Pretty cool after getting drafted and then you get the next year. I came out and had a really good year and kind of felt like I progressed and was ready for the NHL. And so in my mind.

And. And were you, like, when you look back, were you ready or was it. Was it a difference of opinion or was it. What do you think it was?

Skill. Absolutely. Like hockey wise. Yeah, I. I would say I was definitely not like built like these guys in NHL, but like, it didn't matter. I was playing really good hockey at that point and I would have grown into that kind of aspect, you know, I got away with in junior with skill. And then that's what they were trying to implement to was like they wanted me to look like the protege hockey guy, which is not really my genes. I've been trying to get there for a year. I didn't have, I mean, yeah, peanuts and, you know, cashews and whatever and really diet and I'll never have six. Six abs, I promise you.

I've tried, I've worked with that body. You're a solid runner.

I'll push. Yeah, I push you the ride. I run a grunt, though. I'm like bars.

So. So take us through some of the highs and Lows like if, if you look, you've been, you've been. You were with Edmonton for a while. You were with a few different teams. You played in Europe like over this past while in a. Or these past few years for your career. What. What's been the biggest challenge? What's. What's been. You know, there's been some highs, there's been some lows. You get all kinds of experiences. But what's been the biggest challenge that you've faced throughout this time?

Definitely uncertainty would be a big nut. Big word for what I've endured to the career was never settled after. Honestly, ever since I left London, I was never got to settle. Like never know where you're sitting in the, you know, what place you're sitting or where you're. What your path is. That's the worst.

And then, you know, it's the not knowing if you have a contract or not and then living out of a suitcase, not knowing where you're going to live the next season.

Live in a hotel for a while. That was brutal. I mean, it's just. I don't know, just this uncertainty sucks, you know, that's what, that's what everybody strives for, is kind of a solid contract. You know, then you can. It's not that you sit back and don't care. It's like you get to believe, like relax and kind of just be your natural player.

Yeah. You can do your. Do your thing. You can be you instead of being the you that's worried about having something. Something there for you. So what was. Tell us about one of your lowest points and how you overcame it. Like what was one of the darkest places for you?

That's a good question. Springfield actually was that we were horrible my second year there. I mean, we had a horrible season. I just can't express that enough. We lost so much. It was. I hated losing, man. When I was in London, we lost 10 games the first year, seven games. 11 games the first year, seven games total. That's including playoffs and memcup the second year and I think 13 games the third year and we lost in Springfield that year, like 50 something games. Oh, it was miserable. It was so miserable. And it just was never ending. And there was like no like tunnel to go up to play in the NHL. I was like stuck there and I couldn't stand it. And it was like, it was really hard. Like I honestly didn't. Yeah, there's some dark times for sure.

And did you have, did you have somebody that you talk to? Did you what were your. I mean, and there's coping mechanisms. We know when it comes to professional sport. It's, you know, it's going to be alcohol, it's going to be drugs, it's going to be things like that. But what. What brought you out of the low or what? You know, if you can describe for people what that was like for you and what helped you, it. It'll make a difference for other people who are in that.

Yeah, it's. It's really. It challenges your character, challenges everything. But the light at the end of the tunnel was getting picked up on waivers next year. I just, you know, it's like, when you're in that place is like, how do you be your best self? I hate losing. You want me to act happy when we're losing? Get the F out of here.

Like, yeah, yeah. And that's wrong.

And you're trying to, like, fix it. You're trying to have conversations. The power plays at freaking 3% when you're the one of the guys that's supposed to help it work and it's not working. Like, it's stressful. And then when you try to have a conversation, when you go out of the ice and can't do it, it's like, that's frustrating. It's like, okay, we can't make passes, so we can't score. Like, what do you want? You know, what does anybody. What are any of us gonna do? This is not good.

The harder you try, the worse it gets.

We just kept losing, losing, losing. And bad, too. Like six. Nothing like ten. One, like, bad boss.

Yeah.

Not like, who could.

You just couldn't finish.

Like, we wouldn't have a chance for the drop. Who.

Who could you confide in or talk to about it, honestly, outside of the team? Because I know there's probably a couple guys on the team that. Teams have that dynamic where, you know, there's groups within a team always. And, you know, some people seem to get others more than. It's just like high school. There's cliques or whatever. Did you have anyone away from hockey, though, that you could talk to?

Were you.

Are you close with your parents? Would you share that kind of stuff with them? Or would you just give them the good news or.

Yeah. No. Who could you talk to? That's not really a positive trait of him. Stubborn and, like, kind of, like battle things out myself. So I would say.

Because that's.

That's not the answer for sure. Yeah, that's.

That's my problem. I. If I just bottle everything up and stuff it. So, you know, if I'm, if an injury, you know, the therapist will know but I just, I'll be down, I'll be losing my mind. I can't perform the way I want. I'm going to stuff it and I'm not going to tell people about it. I didn't have that ability to share what I was really feeling about things. So that's why I was curious if you had an outlet for that while you were there in that tough time.

No, no, I honestly didn't. Yeah, I did not. So I was. That was carrying the burden was kind of like that was. That's what I mean. It's dark times. You don't know how to get out of it.

Yeah, that's hard.

And that's the thing and that's the thing that, that Paul can probably really relate to too because. And maybe it's a common trait when it comes to top performing athletes in that you hate losing. Like I can't tell you how much Paul hated losing. Like the demeanor, the mood, the anger and just, you know, whether it's replaying what happened in your mind in that, you know, wanting things to have gone differently and just being so angry and dark about just the fact of the loss, let alone loss after loss after loss. And Paul would be one of those players that, you know, would take it upon himself to pull the team back to a win if they were down or and if he couldn't then he would blame himself and again, you know, shoulder it and not talk to other people. But ultimately it's that kind of thing that then you flash forward to life after sport and there's never been those either connections to be to know how or that skill to know how to talk to somebody when times are the worst or when times are the hardest or you know, that kind of thing. And you almost learn this skill as an athlete to shoulder it just to take it and it's bad and it's horrible at the time but whether it's an injury or losses or not knowing where you're going and you just take it and deal with it and it's not good. Nobody's happy.

I would say on my honest opinion is like I. You can't really. It's almost like you can't trust someone else on the team.

You know what, Rob, you, you've just. No, no, listen youn've just hit the nail on the head as to one of the reasons that I started this podcast because what I discovered working with just so many different types of athletes. It didn't matter whether they were in figure skating or volleyball or hockey or rugby. Especially when you're at the highest level, pro level or national level, you don't know if one of your teammates is going to say something to someone else. And then upper management gets a sniff that you're not happy, or you're competing against a teammate for a position or, you know, there's so many. Or they won't even say something to a national team sports psychologist because they might be afraid that that goes further to the coaches. And then the coaches think that the player can't perform. And that's why I would find in this unique role as a strength coach, that I would hear these things from these athletes and understand that they're alone. They feel really alone. They feel like they don't have support. And it's not coming from teammates and it's rarely coming from staff support of the team or individual sports, too. And then, then who do you talk to? Because a lot of the people that aren't in sport, whether even if they're your friends or family, don't fully understand what it's like. And so, like that, what. You just hit the nail on the head. And in some aspects of why, why we wanted to do this.

I. I think it's. I don't know, it's hard. It's. It's really hard. It's amazing. You know, it's just. And it's not about. I don't know, it should be just about. If you're good, you're good.

Yeah. Take the poll. Take the politics out.

I don't know if you told me something I don't need. If I needed to use that information to climb over you, then I don't know, I would complain.

Yeah. Yeah.

Just saying.

That's my opinion.

That's how I feel about. Or. I don't need that. I mean, if you come to me and tell me something, that means you need friend, not a. Like a guy thinking, oh, perfect, I got some make, I got some juice.

Exactly. Yeah.

Yeah. What are you doing? And like, like, get out of.

And that's.

That's the person I don't want. Yeah, I, that's me personally. That's. I don't know. But that's.

But that's you. That's perfect because you wear your heart on your sleeve. And that's going to be a better recipe for a happier human being than the political crap that goes on behind the scenes in sport where it's, you know, it can be really ruthless. And it's. It's not a nice place for a lot of people. So. And there's, you know, and people don't see that. Fans don't necessarily see that. And. But. But it's one of the most beautiful things about sport is the kind of passion for the game that you have and displayed throughout your career. So, you know, that's the. That's where flow happens. That's where the. The you really connect with people that are watching you. Like, there's probably so many people. This is what happened to Paul. There's probably so many people that watched you play, and you may have never met them, but your play and them watching you affected their life. Maybe they started playing rec league when they never played hockey before, or they. They followed you throughout your career because you inspired them so much. Or. And these are people you probably never met and you don't even realize how much of an impact and how much joy you brought their life. And those are some of the coolest things about sport.

That is really neat. I. I had a good connection with a girl in Austria this year. She. She just wrote me a note that she actually just started playing hockey. So it's funny you mentioned that. It's pretty cool.

Yeah, that's so right on.

She sent me a birthday present with these. Yeah, it was cool. But every game I'd give her high five or hug and that kind of stopped me in a lot. So that was pretty cool. She was a cool kid, and now she's playing hockey.

That's amazing. That's amazing. Throughout your career, what would you say, you know, if Springfield was the biggest challenge? You know, you're further on in your career. You're close to retirement here. What are your greatest fears at this point in your career?

I don't be honest with you guys. I'm not really having a family would be maybe income financially, like figuring out what to do, but I've already kind of nailed that down. So that fear is gone for me. And now it's more. I don't have any really. I just kind of. It was fun. Good ride. Time to go off to the sunset.

So you're retiring now?

Yeah, so I'll be starting working down in Naples. And I'm working with a company also called Beta and Endocannabinoid Nutrition. So I've been working with them and that. That kind of alternative kind of re. Not what I kind of feel like.

It'S an emerging space. Really.

Yeah. So it's been good and I really believe in the stuff. So I jumped on board with them and I'm trying to help, you know, maybe push that message and use it, because I've been using the product and it really was beneficial. So.

Yeah, any of the. Any of the cannabinoids right now are amazing for all kinds of things. Anti inflammatory, for reducing pain, for clarity and. And not even getting into the, you know, the THC or anything like that, but just the. The cannabinoid properties and how they help people are pretty phenomenal.

Yeah. It's definitely with them. That's the segment a little bit is that you hear CBD was in this kind of thc. There's not thc.

Yeah.

I didn't use the THC stuff, so it was unique to see the benefits. And I had, you know, I had some issues with anxiety a little bit and having a hard time sleeping. Then I started falling asleep and then started feeling better in the morning. So it's really beneficial. And I had a really hard time, man. It wasn't like a. Oh, I get a little bit anxious sometimes. Like, I had some really bad anxiety attacks and like, it freaked me out.

So almost like a panic where your heart and you can't breathe.

Yeah. Like, really bad. Like, I had no idea what was going on. Then I got kind of. I figured out what was going on, you know, diagnosed with that. So the CBD stuff really helped.

What else? What do you. What do you think it was stemming from the panic attacks? Do you know?

No idea. Like, literally had no idea.

Yeah.

Came out of nowhere. Thought I was, like, literally thought I was, like, having a stroke.

Yeah.

I couldn't describe this, like, panic. It was not. And I had no idea why I wasn't nervous. Nothing.

The tightness in the chest and the not breathing and all of that. Yeah.

10 hours straight home from Germany, I thought. I, like, kept thinking I was gonna, like, blackout.

Yeah. That's amazing.

And I got home and I was like, oh, my. What the hell with that? My wife, she annoyed. I kept going to the bathroom every five minutes because I thought I was gonna faint.

That's crazy. Yeah.

It was long ride, like.

And it'd be different if you weren't on an airplane, you know? Yeah.

And also, I didn't know what was going on.

Yeah. Yeah.

I always take this nut. Never had it in my life. And boom. So then, you know, then it's about, like, kind of dealing with that.

And what do you think that that was transitional related, like somewhere in the back of your mind not knowing what the rest of your future was going to look like?

Not really. You know, I never, never thought about it. Just playing hockey and keep going. Just.

Yeah. I don't know.

Never had any, like, anxious. I don't, I kind of live day by day. I'm not like a big, you know, way ahead. Stress yourselves. I just go, whatever happens today, get a good day. Okay. Go tomorrow. What are we doing? I couldn't tell you what I'm doing on Sunday.

So now you're settling in. You're settling in Naples and you're working with Veda and you have a brand new, well, not brand new, but 7 month old baby and you're settled with Marta.

Yep.

So that sounds like, it sounds like you're settling into a really new, amazing position and identity and it, it sounds exciting.

Yeah, I'm excited. I'm extremely excited about it. I told you it was a long time, like, lot of stress in hockey. It's a long road, like a lot of grind and like, it's like I said, it started early, so it was, I don't know, I didn't enjoy it all the time. So for me, I still love hockey though. I go like, I went and skated at the Hockey Summit here. They had a pro camp down here and worked out with the guys. I really enjoyed it. That's, I don't know. Yeah, that's enough. Last year was kind of. That was enough.

Yeah, that's, that's what I was just gonna ask is what are you gonna, you know, keep your toe on the rink a little bit? Are you gonna, like, is there some way you're gonna stay involved in some form or another?

I don't know. I, I wouldn't, I'm gonna mind helping, you know, whatever I can, but I, I don't, I don't think I want to jump right into having a position there.

Yeah.

Yeah. Just getting, I don't know why circle back.

Need a little break now anyway.

Use a break. I, I, I really could. I'm not going to go through that. I try to climb the ladder as a player. I don't know about doing. Coach.

Yeah, no, no, that makes sense.

No, I would like to just have a stable time and enjoy my life a little bit.

And if there's something about you that most people don't know, what would that be that you want to share? Like, it could be something unique. It could be quirky, like just something that people don't generally know that about you. Is there anything like that?

Not really. Pretty wide open, as you know. I mean.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

But for people who don't know you like we do, what's something that they wouldn't expect to hear?

I'm really just kind of.

That you change diapers every day.

Yeah, I change diapers. I kind of try to like the poop once, but.

It'S like, no, I can smell that. I don't think so.

Well, I can let everyone know that you have a good taste in music because I remember you coming into the gym, the spring season just finished up and you were starting to train with Kari again and you put on a song for us and you're like, this is going to be the song of the summer. There's blurred lines and it totally was prediction true. Yeah, you nailed it.

It was the white man dance song that everybody can put a move to.

That's right. Gives us guys a chance.

Yeah, exactly. What's a really small action or thing that you do that has had a really big impact for you, for your. It could be for your sport, your life, your relationships, but one little thing that you do that really pays big dividends for you?

I don't know. I treat people. I treat people good, I think, you know, away from anywhere, really. I just kind of open, listen to people, make friendships. I don't know. I've always treated people while the fans especially, I've always been good to them. I always felt it was such a honor to play in front of people. You know what I mean? It's like ever since I was 12, playing in front of 10,000 people, that was like, it just was such a cool feeling. And appreciate.

It's a gift.

It's a gift to play in front of those people. And I always give. People gave pucks to kids and warm ups and stuff like that. I really, I genuinely wanted to do it. I didn't care if anybody saw me. I didn't care. I love watching kids go nuts. And I remember being a kid in Syracuse and I caught a puck, like the coolest thing in the world. So I don't know, I guess it's kind of translated with me. I always used. I mean, I don't do it anymore. I don't get that much handmail, but I used to write back letters when I sign my cards. That kind of stuff was, that's awesome.

And that speaks to who you are and you're just. You're such a fun and good guy to be around. So that's. That's huge.

I want to. I want to extend that question before you ask the next one though. Kari, Rob So a tip specifically then, for all the young hockey players listening, because you have legendary hands. So what is a tip that you would give to develop that skill? Something that you probably were doing on those 10 hours a day on the rink. Is there something, a drill that you think stands above others in terms of the hand, eye, or just getting the great hands and the feel that you had?

I just always had, like, I always had the stick in my hand. If it wasn't a hockey stick, it was lacrosse stick, it wasn't lacrosse stick, I'd have a baseball bat. So it's always hand, eye, hand, eye, hand, eye. And then the lacrosse stick really taught me how to use my hands, because to be able to cradle and have soap, like, good hands. In lacrosse, that translates exactly to hockey. Your hands are loose and you're. You're snapping wrists to, like, make passes, and you're snapping your wrist score goals. So that lacrosse was huge. You don't have to play on a team. You can just play wall ball. And you see your hand start to get good. Your hand eye gets good. You get really confident with snapping the ball and hitting like a target. That's no different. When you pass a puck, you snap your wrist and you pass your target. And that's. I mean, it's the same concept we sell across. So lacrosse was big for me.

And one of the things you're pointing to, though, too, is that it's though. And I. I'm thinking of, for Paul, as well as those extra hours that were spent just passing against a wall over and over. Paul did that with volleyball.

Yeah.

You know, you did that with a lacrosse. You've done that with tennis balls. You know, like you. It's those extra hours of doing that. And I know a lot of young athletes that I see right now, they love to play the game, they kind of resent practice, but then they absolutely are not doing the little extra things, the touches, the extra drills on their own. That would really make a massive difference for their skill in their sport. And those are the things that for guys like you both, you did that stuff over and over and over. And it's part of what, you know, made that skill so much more refined than it would have been had you just had a bunch of practices alone.

You got to be a gym rat.

You got to get totally.

You gotta. You gotta love it and love it all the time.

That's the thing, I think if you don't have passion for it, then, I mean, don't be mad when you're not good at It. Because.

Bingo.

Yeah, I don't. I mean, what do you want me to tell you? Like, I don't know. If you're not. If that's the thing. You don't. That's when. That's when it comes back to, like, when I send you being a team guy. Like, if you don't have the ability, don't you know things either?

Yeah, yeah.

Like politics or, you know, I don't know. Like, that's how I feel. Like, if you're not putting in the time, don't be jealous as I am.

Yeah, no, that's. That's very true. We're gonna fire off a few quick little questions for you. Stuff like, did you have a favorite movie growing up?

Goodwill hunting? Well, Youngblood was. Me and my brother used to watch Young Blood.

Youngblood.

Oh, was that with what's his face? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Oh, my God. This is the first time I saw a woman breast. That was like.

And from there, you always had a distraction for hockey, right from that moment on.

Yes, that's exactly right. The pretty girls come to junior hockey.

Those are called puck bunnies.

No, don't call them.

Okay. And what about a favorite book?

Favorite book.

Don't say 50 shades of gray, which you gave to Kari as a gift. I want everyone to know for her birthday, you gave her 50 shades of gray. So you can't say that.

That was for you, buddy.

How did I know that was gonna come up? How did I know?

Oh, that's great.

No, really. Favorite book?

The Hobbit.

Oh, sweet. I read that years ago and then just kept going. But none of the other books were as good as a Hobbit.

I wasn't much. That was my one that I liked.

What about favorite workouts? Or least favorite workouts?

I hated your hill runs the worst. Like, that was the death of me every time. It never got easier. You're like, oh, it's gonna get easier. It never got easier. It sucked.

It never gets easier because she adds more reps. Yeah.

Yeah.

So, Kari.

Yeah.

It is not.

You got it backwards here. And then Paul's got the longest place in the world. There's no chance, like, catching this human being. Then there's, Remember it was Randy Johnson and Billy Bram, and these girls were, like, unbelievable runners. Me and Boland were. It was embarrassing.

Yeah. Rebecca.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Oh, yeah. Rebecca.

Johnny. Johnny. But no, no, but I was timing you guys. Your times were getting better, right?

Yeah, true. But it never got easier.

But then you had the legs and lungs.

You throwing that little Carrot at the end, like, oh, your time's better. It didn't make it easier.

But your legs and lungs were good on the ice, so that's all that matters.

That's true. It did translate. You know, I did feel good on the ice. Absolutely. And my training camp, I felt awesome.

How about favorite workouts, like, that you might be doing now or whenever?

Yeah, the workouts that are kind of. They've really been. They've really changed a lot. I feel like since when I started now, it's more. So much more explosive and, like, low reps and. Explosive. Explosive. I. I kind of like that. It's the workouts I'm doing with this guy, Sean Sullivan down here were good. Really felt good. Camps doing those. And then. And then I did the hockey Summit this summer, and they had a lot of similar stuff, similar concepts. So it's. The transition is happening. You see a lot more explosive guys. I mean, the speed is unbelievable now. Guys are so.

Yeah, it's a different game.

It is. So there's no holding. I mean, there's nobody holding up. So that's just guys that are flying 100 miles an hour.

Yeah. Yeah. And what about a favorite hobby? Is there something else that you like to do that's just different from everything that's involved in hockey?

No, not really. I'm really. Generic question. A really original answer with golf. I play golf. I just love golf.

That's what every hockey player answers.

Right. And I play it anytime. I have the same passion for golf. I didn't. Haven't given as much time as I did hockey.

Yeah. Yeah. Otherwise you'd be.

I got a daughter now, so that's a big breaker on that one.

Oh, yeah, Huge. Huge hobby and distraction with a little one, that's for sure.

Yeah. Much better, though. That's a lot more joy. Birdies are still fun, though. It's close. Second birdies or eagles are really close.

And you got a dog, too. No.

Yep. Bailey, the Chocolate Lab.

Oh, sweet.

Yeah, she's amazing. So we got a cool little family, and we really enjoy it.

And. And Marta's done a. She. She likes the transition in into Florida.

Yep. She. She loves it down here, so it's. It's beautiful. We live like a resort living place, so we got, like, a movie theater, a couple restaurants, a big community pool. I don't know. We really enjoy it down here. It's a lot different than Lafayette, where she's from. She spent the summer there this summer, so she got to go back, and it's totally different, you know, but is she.

She's not. Is she originally from Latvia?

Yes. Yep. Matter when I pick.

That's where Paul's. Paul's biological family is from.

Oh, cool.

And then my family. Yeah, my family's in. You never know.

Family, bud.

Yeah. And I got family in Naples, so we'll come down and. Come down and see you.

Yeah. You love it, Dan. It's awesome. So come see us. That'd be great.

Yeah. My.

She. I told her whenever people ask me, she's laughing. I told people that I picked up a souvenir when I played for Riga. It's a pretty good one, though. She's a great souvenir.

Yeah. Brought her everywhere you went from there on in.

Yep. She stuck out with me.

And any. Any last tips you might give for young hockey players that are up and comers who are really passionate and going for it. What. What are. Any extra tips you might give?

I just say enjoy it and have fun with it. That's always. That's so original as well, but I mean, really enjoy it. And if, like you said, if you have passion for it, you're gonna drive yourself to be better. So, I mean, the end result is what it is. You get to. If you follow that passion, you get to the point where you're either good enough or you're not. It's okay. There's still other things. You know, it's not the end of the world, so just go with it. As long as you love it, follow the passion makes you better. If you don't have passion, then you're gonna be lazy. You're not gonna practice, you're not gonna get to the highest levels.

That's fantastic. I love it. You're on Instagram, you're on Twitter, if anyone wants to reach you.

Yep. Absolutely. Always answer back, perfect.

Perfect. Okay. Well, I think that's going to be it for today. Is there anything else you want to add in?

Nope, I'm all set. I appreciate the call, and it was great catching up with you guys again.

Thank you, Rob. It's been fantastic.

We can't say enough about what an amazing person you are. And it's just been so. It's been an honor to know you. And the talent you have as an athlete is one thing, but who you are as a human being is something that's completely standalone, different, that we're so lucky to be a part of and knowing you. So thank you so much for coming on and, yeah, say hi to Marta and Stella and have a great, great day.

Thanks. You too. Thanks guys.

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