05/16/2007

Gaylord's Weber top pick in USHL draft

Two North Stars are also selected

BY JAMES COOK

jcook@record-eagle.com

Weber

TRAVERSE CITY — Will Weber is a wanted man.

Just a little over a month after he committed to play collegiately for Miami (Ohio), Weber was selected No. 1 overall Tuesday in the United States Hockey League draft.

The Gaylord High School defenseman could still be a possibility for the Traverse City North Stars if he chooses to play his year of junior hockey closer to home.

"I think everybody in the state is trying to get him,” North Stars general manager Anthony Palumbo said. "It doesn't surprise me (that he went No. 1 overall). He's a talented player.”

Two current Traverse City North Stars were selected by Waterloo — forward Kory Kaunisto in the sixth round (69th overall) and forward Anthony Schooley in the 16th round (156th).

Chicago selected high school players from Michigan with three of its first four picks, taking Cranbrook Kingswood forward Andrew Miller in the second round and East Kentwood forward Eric Alexander in the sixth round. The Steel traded away their third, fourth and fifth picks.

"We are very excited to select Will with our top pick and have him a part of our program for next season, " Steel GM Jason Koehler said on the team's Web site. "Our entire staff has had the chance to see him play and all we could say is 'wow.' It's hard to find quality defensemen at any level, but we feel we were able to get the best one in the country that will be playing in the USHL out of this draft.

"Will has seen his stock go through the roof the last few months with junior, college and NHL attention, yet through it all has remained poised and focused for the future. He's physically and mentally tough and will no doubt succeed at the junior level and beyond. Miami really hit a home run with this commitment and we're proud to have him a part of the Steel family.”

Fourteen other NAHL players were selected, including 10 in the first seven round of the 18-round process.

Mahoning Valley's Alden Hirschfeld went No. 2 overall to the Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets and St. Louis' Trent Vogelhuber went fifth to Des Moines. Alpena blueliner Chad Billins was picked it he second round by Waterloo.

Mahoning Valley and Santa Fe each had three players picked.

The North Stars have four tenders and two draft picks remaining after using a tender over the weekend on former Traverse City West standout Sean Burke. TC has also signed ex-TC Central forwards Erik McLintock and Eric O'Hearn and defenseman Trevor Shively.

The Stars will hold a tryout camp June 28-30 before their training camp in August.