Shea Weber

Infobox Ice Hockey Player

---

image_size = 200px
position = Defence
shoots = Right
height_ft = 6
height_in = 3
weight_lb = 211
league = NHL
team = Nashville Predators
nationality = Canada
birth_date = Birth date and age|1985|8|14|mf=y
birth_place = Salmon Arm, BC, CAN
draft = 49th overall
draft_year = 2003
draft_team = Nashville Predators
career_start = 2005

Shea Weber (born August 14, 1985) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Drafted in the second round, 49th overall by the Predators in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Weber has spent his entire NHL career with the Predators. He has also suited up for the Sicamous Eagles of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL), the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL) and the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Personal life

Weber was born on August 14, 1985 in Salmon Arm, British Columbia to parents Tracy and James Weber.cite news|last=Gallagher|first=Tony|title=Predators' Weber bred on fertile Sicamous ground|url=http://www.canada.com/topics/sports/hockey/canucksprovincestory.html?id=93c9f597-030d-423d-95f4-1be9b75e715c&k=56870|publisher=The Province|date=23 November 2006|accessdate=2008-01-25] Despite being born in Salmon Arm, Weber was raised in Sicamous, British Columbia. Growing up in the Sicamous and District Minor Hockey Association of the BCAHA, Weber often switched between forward and defenceman. He credits his father for convincing him to make the switch to defence because he thought Weber would "have a better shot at a pro career as a defenceman".

Playing career

Nashville Predators

On September 10, 2004, Weber signed a three-year, $1.425–million entry level contract with his draft team, the Nashville Predators. [cite news|last=Drinnan|first=Gregg|title=Blazers coach Clark unimpressed with play of veterans|publisher=Kamloops Daily News|date=11 September 2004|accessdate=2008-01-25] cite news|last=Stevens|first=Neil|title=NHL's rich and famous|publisher=The Globe and Mail|date=4 October 2007 |url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20071004.wsptnhl4/BNStory/NEIL+STEVENS|accessdate=2008-01-25] A year and a half later, Weber made his NHL debut on January 6, 2006 versus the Detroit Red Wings, recording three shots on goal in 11:08 of icetime. [cite news|title=Knee injury lands Preds' Markov on injured reserve|publisher=ESPN|date=13 January 2006|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2291682|accessdate=2008-01-25] [cite web|title=Detroit 3, Nashville 1 – Box Score|publisher=ESPN|date=6 January 2006|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/boxscore?gameId=260106027|accessdate=2008-02-08] Three months later, on April 6, 2006, Weber scored his first NHL goal against Reinhard Divis of the St. Louis Blues in a 3–0 Nashville victory. [cite news|title=Mason, Predators Blank Blues|publisher=WVIT|date=6 April 2006|url=http://www.nbc30.com/nhl/8520308/detail.html|accessdate=2008-01-25] Weber would go on to play in 28 games in his rookie season, finishing with two goals and ten assists. He then added an addition two goals in four playoff games with the Predators before the team was eliminated in the first round by the San Jose Sharks.cite web|title=Shea Weber|publisher=The Internet Hockey Database|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=62488|accessdate=2008-02-08] [cite news|title=Sharks eliminate Predators| url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/stanleycup2006/storyview.html?/story/sports/national/2006/04/30/Sports/sharks-predators060430.html|publisher=CBC|date=1 May 2006|accessdate=2008-02-08] With Nashville's AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, still in playoff action, Weber was reassigned to the Admirals roster for the remainder of the AHL playoffs. [cite news|title=Predators send reinforcements| url=http://www.milwaukeeadmirals.com/home/news/3back.html;jsessionid=40B3C1173412FC384E88D9B544892DA3|publisher=Milwaukee Admirals|date=1 May 2006|accessdate=2008-02-08] There he compiled six goals and five assists in fourteen games as the Admirals nearly clinched the Calder Cup, loosing to the Hershey Bears in six games in the Calder Cup Finals. [cite news|title=Admirals drop game six to Bears| url=http://www.milwaukeeadmirals.com/home/news/game6.html;jsessionid=3AA80544EC07578C0F2ED4F318367C6D|publisher=Milwaukee Admirals|date=15 June 2006|accessdate=2008-02-08]

In his sophomore season, Weber evolved into one of Nashville's most imporant players.cite news|last=McIntyre|first=Gordon|title=Flying under the radar: These 12 players are having breakout seasons|url=|publisher=The Province|date=22 January 2007|accessdate=2008-02-10] At the midway point of the season, Weber had already compiled 26 points. His play was rewarded on January 14, 2007 when he was named to the Western Conference roster for the 2007 NHL YoungStars Game in Dallas, Texas. [cite news|last=Molinari|first=Dave|title=Three Penguins make roster for YoungStars game|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07014/753726-61.stm|publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=14 January 2007|accessdate=2008-02-10] Weber went on to finish the season with forty points, finishing eighth on the Predators roster in total points. [cite web|title=2006-07 Nashville Predators (NHL)|publisher=The Internet Hockey Database|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0014122007.html|accessdate=2008-02-10] Weber added an additional three assists in five playoff games before the Predators were eliminated by the San Jose Sharks for the second consecutive season. [cite news|last=Walker|first=Teresa|title=Cool Sharks rally to oust Nashville|url=|publisher=The Globe and Mail|date=21 April 2007|accessdate=2008-02-10]

Weber's third season with the Predators began with a rash of injuries. After playing only 2:19 of the first period in Nashville's season opening game versus the Colorado Avalanche, Weber fell awkwardly and dislocated his kneecap. [cite news|title=Nashville's Weber out 3-6 weeks with dislocated knee cap|publisher=ESPN|date=7 October 2007|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3052292|accessdate=2008-01-25] As a result, Weber missed the next six weeks of games before returning to the Nashville lineup versus the St. Louis Blues on November 17, 2007. [cite news|last=Glennon|first=John|title=Preds to pair Weber, Zanon tonight|publisher=The Tennessean|date=17 November 2007|url=http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071117/SPORTS02/71117003/1028|accessdate=2008-01-25] Shortly thereafter, Weber suffered another injury, this time injuring his leg and missing eleven games before he returned to the Predators lineup for a January 15, 2008 game versus the Calgary Flames. [cite news|last=McGee|first=Mark|title=Preds light up Flames, 3–0|publisher=The City Paper|date=15 January 2008 |url=http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=58545|accessdate=2008-01-25] On June 23, 2008, Weber signed a three-year, $13.5 million contract extension with the Predators. [cite web|title=Predators sign Weber to three-year, $13.5 million deal|url=http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/story/?id=241451&hubname=nhl-predators|publisher=TSN|date=2008-06-23|accessdate=2008-10-10]

International play

MedalBottom

Weber has twice represented Canada at the international level of ice hockey. His first experience with Canada came for the national junior team, when on December 22, 2004, he was named to the roster for the 2005 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Grand Forks, North Dakota. [cite press release|title=Canada's roster trimmed to 22 players for World Juniors |url=http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.cfm/ci_id/11071/la_id/1.htm|publisher=Hockey Canada|date=22 December 2004|accessdate=2008-02-09] [cite web|title=Roster/Canada|url=http://www.hockeycanada.ca/3/4/8/8/index1.shtml|publisher=Hockey Canada|accessdate=2008-02-09] There he paired with Dion Phaneuf to form Canada's top defensive pair, helping Canada win its first junior gold medal since the 1997 tournament. [cite news|title=Phaneuf, Weber: Rock and hard place|publisher=Star–Phoenix|date=30 December 2004 |url=|accessdate=2008-02-09] Despite being held pointless throughout the tournament, Weber finished tied for third among plus/minus leaders with a rating of +10. [cite web|title=Plus–minus leaders |url=http://www.iihf.com/Hydra/Tournaments_05/output/w20/hydra.iihf.com/data/iihf/output/xml/1000000020/IHM1000000020Z12_85G_2_0.html|publisher=IIHF|accessdate=2008-02-09]

Weber made his debut with the national senior team, when on April 22, 2007, he accepted an invitation to join the team for the 2007 IIHF World Championship. [cite press release|title=Canada announces additional players for 2007 IIHF World Championship|url=http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.cfm/ci_id/24412/la_id/1.htm|publisher=Hockey Canada|date=22 April 2007|accessdate=2008-02-09] However, Weber's experience in this tournament was marred by an ugly incident for which he was suspended three games. Meerly 1:19 into Canada's preliminary round game versus Germany, Weber hit Yannic Seidenberg in the chin with his elbow, concussing Seidenberg and sidelining him for the remainder of the tournament. [cite news|title=Canada's Weber suspended 3 games for hit to head|publisher=ESPN|date=29 April 2007 |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/news/story?id=2853112|accessdate=2008-01-25] After serving his suspension, Weber continued the tournament, finishing with two points in his six games played, including a goal in Canada's 5–1 quarterfinal victory over Switzerland. [cite web|title=Player statistics by team: CAN – Canada |url=http://www.iihf.com/Hydra/Tournaments_07/output/WS/hydra.iihf.com/113/IHM1130CAN_83_10_0.pdf|publisher=IIHF|accessdate=2008-02-09] [cite news|title=Canada sails to semis after blasting Switzerland|publisher=Edmonton Sun|date=10 May 2007 |url=http://www.edmontonsun.com/Sports/2007/05/10/4169343.html|accessdate=2008-02-09] Canada would go on to win the gold medal in the tournament, defeating Finland 4–2. [cite news|title=Doan smiling as Canada wins world hockey title|publisher=CTV|date=13 May 2007|url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070513/world_hockey_championship_070513?s_name=&no_ads=|accessdate=2008-02-09]

Awards

*2004 – WHL West Second All-Star Team
*2004 – CHL Memorial Cup All-Star Team
*2005 – WHL airBC Trophy
*2005 – WHL West First All-Star Team
*2007 – Played in NHL YoungStars Game

Transaction

*June 21, 2003 – Drafted in the second round, 49th overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft

Career statistics

International statistics

References

External links

*hockeydb|62488
* [http://predators.nhl.com/team/app?page=PlayerDetail&playerId=8470642&service=page&tab=prf Official Nashville Predators profile]