Canadiens captain nominated for Masterson
Add Canadiens captain Shea Weber to the list of those who are cautiously optimistic the NHL will resume play this summer.
While the league gave teams the green light to resume small-group training at their practice facilities on Monday, Weber plans to stay at his off-season home in Kelowna, B.C., until there is a full training camp on the horizon.
“As far as I know, our facility (in Brossard) isn’t open yet and I have a good group of guys I can work with here,” Weber said during a conference call to discuss his nomination for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. “But if something comes up and there’s more of a certain idea, I’ll try to figure something out.”
Weber and his family hunkered down in Montreal after the NHL season was halted on March 12 because of COVID-19, but moved back to Kelowna when it became obvious the city was going to be shut for a while.
“The biggest thing for me was the ability to train,” Weber said. “My house has a full gym and there’s not much in my home in Montreal because I have the practice facility and the Bell Centre. I knew if we were coming back, I had to be prepared and get back on the weights.”
Weber has always been known for his hard work, a trait instilled in him by his parents. His belief in himself allowed him to reclaim his position as an elite NHL defenceman after he missed almost a full year following foot and knee surgeries.
Weber’s comeback was recognized when the Montreal chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association nominated him for the Masterton Trophy, presented annually to the NHL player “who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.”
Weber’s perseverance was on display before and after he was sidelined during the 2017-2018 season. Weber suffered a broken left foot during the first game of the season but played 25 more games before crawling off the ice during the NHL 100 Classic outdoor game in Ottawa and requiring surgery to repair damaged tendons in the foot. Weber was hoping to return for the start of the 2018-2019 season, but his recovery hit a major speed bump when a routine examination revealed he required surgery to repair a meniscal tear in his right knee and he didn’t return to the lineup until Nov. 27.