Shuffling off to Buffalo
HERSHEY— Sitting in the penalty box during a recent American Hockey League game, Mike Weber wiped away some blood trickling from his nose.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound defenseman just got finished exchanging punches with a Hershey player in front of his own net.
"I'm a big, physical guy and I have to defend our end of the ice,"Weber said. "That's why I'm here."
That's also why the Cranberry Township product and former Seneca Valley freshman was called up Thursday by the Buffalo Sabres in time for Friday's 4-2 win over Florida, picking up a second-period holding penalty.
Weber, 19, was the youngest player on the youngest team in the AHL. He was a second-round draft choice (No. 57 overall) of the Sabres in the 2006 NHL draft, but they returned him to Windsor of the Ontario Hockey League for a fourth season last year.
During Buffalo's preseason camp last month, Weber suited up for four exhibition games and played in one before being assigned to Rochester (N.Y.) of the AHL.
"That was against the Minnesota Wild,"Weber recalled of his one NHLappearance. "I can't even describe in words what that felt like. I was living my dream that night.
"Even when they sent me down, the Sabres coaches assured me it wasn't because of anything I did wrong or had lacking in my game. I'm a young kid who needs more seasoning."
In Rochester, he was playing with a bunch of young players who need the same thing. The oldest player on the Americans' roster is 24. Weber is the only player on the team who hasn't turned 20. He'll do so on Dec. 16.
"This is the youngest team Rochester has ever put on the ice," said team broadcaster Don Stevens. "I've been doing their games for 22 years now and, by far, this is the youngest team in the league.
"(Weber) is very composed for a young player. He's not intimidated at all by this level of competition."
In fact, Weber has been a bit too feisty at times as he leads all AHLrookies with seven minor penalties. He leads the Americans with 24 penalty minutes, but he also leads the club in plus-minus with a plus 4.
Weber has no goals and three assists through the club's first eight games.
During a top prospect skills competition last year, Weber won the event for the hardest shot.
He's been getting playing time at the left point on the power play and put three shots on net against Hershey last weekend.
"That's the advantage of playing on such a young team in this league," said Americans head coach Randy Cunneyworth. "Mike is gaining experience on the power play and penalty kill, and he's holding his own.
"Professional hockey is all about time and space. There isn't much of either out there, and that kid has never been exposed to this kind of speed before this year."
That's why he spent two weeks at a preseason camp in St. Petersburg, Russia, before reporting to the Sabres training camp.
"I want to play in the NHL as soon as possible,"Weber said. "That's why I went over there, to try to adjust to the kind of speed I'd be seeing when I got to Buffalo's camp.
"I've gone from playing juniors with a bunch of teenagers to playing against older, veteran guys," he added. "I've played against a 40-year-old in this league (AHL), against a number of guys who have been in the NHL."
"There aren't many 19-year-olds in the AHL, let alone the NHL,"Cunneyworth said. "In terms of development, that kid is ahead of the game."
