There was no hiding his disappointment.
Rob Schremp came into training camp this season determined to finally earn a spot on the Edmonton Oilers rosters.
But the axe fell last night, and he was one of five players cut by head coach Pat Quinn.
"It would have been awesome to play for Pat Quinn and Tom Renney, but it's not going to happen right now," said Schremp, who was selected by the Oilers in the first round -- 25th overall -- of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
A junior scoring sensation with the London Knights, he was unable to generate that offensive output at the pro level.
Last year with the Springfield Falcons the native of Syracuse, N.Y., managed to score just seven goals in 69 games.
"I think it's a matter of numbers in a lot of ways," said Quinn.
"But Rob's attitude is terrific. He came into camp with the thought that he was going to earn a job and he showed us that he is a highly skilled kid."
Schremp, 23, has to clear waivers in order to report to the Oilers AHL affiliate in Springfield. With his time seemingly done in Edmonton, he's hoping another team gives him an opportunity.
Meanwhile, Jordan Eberle, who was also cut last night, was upbeat.
"I thought I had a good camp," he said. "Coming into camp I knew the position I stood in. They had a lot of guys on one-way contracts. But I'm happy with the effort I put in.
"They were extremely happy with how I played in this camp.
"They saw I could compete at this level. They want me to go back to junior and be a leader, make those players in Regina better players around me.
"I thought it was a great message. It's tough, but it's part of hockey."
DEREK.VANDIEST@SUNMEDIA.CA
