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September 10, 2008

Area draft picks won't be in tourney

Redmond, Weber want to retain eligibility

By JAMES COOK

TRAVERSE CITY -- So much for a local flavor to the 2008 Prospects Tournament.

Area hockey products Zach Redmond and Will Weber have been informed by their teams that if they participate in any games at the tournament, they would lose their collegiate eligibility.

Redmond, a defenseman from Traverse City who was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers in the seventh round of this year's draft, said he was looking forward to playing in his hometown in a Thrashers jersey in the Sept. 13-17 event that features some of the top prospects from eight NHL clubs, including the Detroit Red Wings.

"I was planning on it, but my coach told me I'd be ineligible if I played in any games," Redmond said. "I was pretty disappointed when I heard I couldn't play up there."

In addition to Detroit, the prospects tournament includes Atlanta, Columbus, Dallas, Minnesota, St. Louis, Tampa Bay and the New York Rangers.

Instead, Redmond will stay at Ferris State and prepare for his sophomore campaign with the Bulldogs.

He said he may be able to practice with the Thrashers in Traverse City, but would leave that decision up to the team and would only come if invited.

"They said they're very happy with where I'm at," the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Redmond said of his last communication with Atlanta officials. "I just need to have a good season in college."

Redmond -- who had six goals, 19 points and +/- rating of +14 (second on the team) in 37 games with Ferris State as a freshman -- will be able to play in the prospects tournament once he signs a professional contract.

Weber, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound defenseman from Gaylord who was picked in 2007's second round by the Columbus Blue Jackets, is entering his freshman season at Miami (Ohio) University.

Weber will be competing with three other freshmen blueliners, and four returning defenders, for the Redhawks, who were 33-8-1 last year, second in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association at 21-6-1. Miami was ranked No. 2 in the final NCAA poll.

"It's looking pretty good," said Weber, who has been in Oxford, Ohio, practicing with the team for the past four weeks. "I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I like my chances."

He had eight goals, 18 points and a +/- rating of +12 in 46 for the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League last season.

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