Redmond hoping to fill void

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This article was published 11/01/2013 (4715 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Zach REDMOND figures his best chance to stick with the Winnipeg Jets comes while taking this approach:

Act like management’s eyes are following you everywhere.

“How do I make a favourable impression? It’s pretty simple, to be honest,” began the 24-year-old defenceman. “You’ve got to show up every day, be positive and work as hard as you possibly can on the ice and in the weight room or wherever it may be that they need you. You have to make an impression that you want to be here and nowhere else.

“They always have eyes on you. We know that. It’s about staying calm and composed and knowing what your job is.”

Four members of the St. John’s IceCaps were on the ice with the Jets on Thursday, including Redmond and fellow D-man Paul Postma and forwards Spencer Machacek and Maxime Macenauer.

They’ll have very little time to open eyes during training camp, such as it is, with the players having just a handful of practices before the regular season opens on Jan. 19.

Postma, who signed a one-way deal last summer, and Redmond could enjoy longer stays with veteran Zach Bogosian (wrist) out for possibly another month while Machacek and Macenauer could stay put simply to provide more depth up front.

“I definitely want to go out there and prove I’m able to play here and I think I’m ready for it,” said Postma, a seventh-round draft pick of the Atlanta Thrashers (184th overall) in 2008.

“I worked a lot with the coaches down there (in St. John’s) and did a lot of video, doing one-on-ones… not even battles, but positioning-wise and when to pick my spots to join offensively. I think I’ve gotten a lot better at that and hopefully I can continue to get better.

“(The lockout) was definitely disappointing and frustrating, to say the least.

“The way I look at it: control things you can control and wherever I was goin to be I was going to work hard and try to get better and for me that was in St. John’s. I’m happy the lockout is over and I’m ready to play.”

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Derek Meech, who is currently nursing a groin injury, is also likely to join the Jets when he gets clearance from the IceCaps’ medical staff.

These departures means St. John’s has lost five of its six leading scorers — Machacek (eight goals, 10 assists) and Postma (7G, 11A) are tied with Jason Jaffray for the team’s scoring lead, followed closely by Redmond (8G 9A), Meech (3G 14A) and Macenauer (7G 8A). To make matters worse, goaltender Mark Dekanich was injured in practice this week.

As a result, the IceCaps have called up goalie Chris Carozzi from the Ontario Reign of the ECHL while signing forward Josh Lunden and defenceman Richard Petiot to professional tryout contracts.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @WFPEdTait