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Weber's incredible road to the all-star game

Weber_medium

Seven years ago, Shea Weber was about as far from being in this photo as you can get.

Undersized. Undrafted by the WHL. Playing in Junior B in his hometown of Sicamous, B.C., two levels below major junior hockey and about as removed from the spotlight as possible. He was only 16, but by then, most future Norris Trophy winners are earning accolades, being scouted by NHL teams and playing with the national team.

Weber was just hoping to get taller.

"I was never overly big, probably average size, but all of a sudden I just had a growth spurt ... and it just kind of went from there," Weber said Sunday after playing in his first all-star game. "Kelowna [of the WHL] saw me at a tournament, enlisted me, and I got a chance."

His chance was with the Rockets, then one of the best teams in junior hockey, and that season he brought a physical edge without much offensive punch. A year after he spent a season in Junior B, Weber was drafted 49th overall by the Predators with what may turn out to be one of the best picks in the last decade.

Now, 206 games into his NHL career, the Norris Trophy talk is cropping up — and at 23, Weber doesn't look out of place among the best players in the NHL. He doesn't get nearly enough attention given the market he plays in, but Weber leads all defencemen in goals with 14 and is sixth in points and on pace for close to 60 this season.

"Just to look back on it, it's ... it's something I dreamt about," Weber said of his journey from Junior B to the all-star game. "I never really thought it would become reality.

"Now it's real and hopefully I can continue to improve and hopefully get back to more all-star games."

I asked him about the Norris Trophy talk down in Tennessee, and Weber chuckled.

"I don't know," he said. "I guess that's just part of the game. We've got to win games in Nashville and get our way back into the playoffs."

As for his numbers being through the roof so far, Weber knows exactly where that's coming from. He's always been productive in the NHL for a young blueliner, but now he's playing four more minutes a night than last year and is the go-to guy for a Predators team in need of one.

"I'm definitely getting more opportunities in different situations," he said. "That's helping with my confidence and my game."

Weber said he didn't have a highlight from all-star weekend, but he clearly enjoyed every minute of it and had his brother on hand from Sicamous to share in the experience. He said if he had to do one thing differently, it might have been to approach his second-place attempt in the hardest shot competition with a giant runup like Zdeno Chara had.

"I should have started from the far blueline," Weber said, laughing.

It may have been his first all-star game, but it won't be his last. Weber's already one of the elite defencemen in the game and only going to get better.   

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Weber

Fantastic post. I watched him play a couple of times here with the Rockets and it’s been great to see him succeed in the NHL so quickly. He doesn’t seem to get much coverage out here, despite being a local boy.

by headspacej on Jan 26, 2009 1:37 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

We may not be a big market

but Nashville loves Shea Weber.

King of the bling come to lay down the evidence//Not George Bush, L-Millz be da president

by Sam Page on Jan 26, 2009 2:08 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

I’ve always really liked Shea Weber, and it seemed like he was on the verge of stardom when he scored almost 20 goals a couple of seasons ago. His precipitous drop to only six goals last season due mostly to injuries most likely brought more anonymity than he deserved because he is one of, if not Nashville’s best players.

Luke Schenn of the Toronto Maple Leafs also gives credit to Weber for his development, where Schenn billeted with the same family as Weber in their times with Kelowna. I guess they spent some time with each other just before Weber left and Schenn started his first full season.

by bkblades on Jan 26, 2009 2:37 PM CST reply actions   0 recs


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