Rob Shearer’s return to North American hockey ended today when the veteran center informed the ECHL’s Reading Royals he was headed back to Europe.

“Rob’s going to play in Austria again, but I don’t know all the specifics,” said Royals head coach and director of hockey operations Larry Courville. “Rob was well-liked in our locker room.

“I’ve known him and been friends with him for several years, so I know this was a hard decision for him to make. He gave it shot, but he’s going back overseas.”

Efforts to reach Shearer were unsuccessful Thursday. A day earlier, he gave no indication something was brewing.

“We have to start winning some home games if we want to make the playoffs, for sure,” Shearer said after Wednesday’s practice, “and it starts with this upcoming stretch of games right here.”

When Shearer informed the Royals of his intentions, the team suspended him, freeing up room on its roster to activate left wing Everett Sheen from the seven-day injured reserve list.

'He leaves on good terms'

Shearer, who played five seasons with the American Hockey League’s Hershey Bears from 1996-97 through 2000-01, spent 10 years in Europe before joining the Royals.

His past six campaigns were in Austria, but he signed with the Royals this summer so his family could be together as his children started school in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County.

Shearer played 34 games for Reading, scoring four goals and assisting on 11 others. He had 10 penalty minutes and a minus-5 rating.

“He thought he’d be more successful for us this season because he’s always produced offensively,” Courville said tonight. “Being in Europe for so many years, he had adjusted to that style of play. When he came back here after so long, back on the smaller ice surface, he thought it would be easier to re-adjust than it was.

“He can make more money in Europe, so he made a personal decision to leave. He felt it was the right thing to do for his family, and I respect that. He leaves on good terms with me. I wish him well.”

Courville said the Royals, who play the Elmira Jackals at home Friday night, will feel Shearer’s departure most from the leadership standpoint.

“Losing Rob is a big blow to the locker room,” Courville said. “He was one of our leaders, but now other guys must step up and fill the void.”