Brett Sterling

Brett Stewart Sterling (born April 24, 1984) is an American former professional ice hockey left winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Atlanta Thrashers, Pittsburgh Penguins and the St. Louis Blues.

Brett Sterling
Sterling with the St. Louis Blues in 2011
Born (1984-04-24) April 24, 1984
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Height 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Weight 175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position Left Wing
Shot Left
Played for Atlanta Thrashers
Pittsburgh Penguins
St. Louis Blues
HV71
Örebro HK
EC Red Bull Salzburg
NHL Draft 145th overall, 2003
Atlanta Thrashers
Playing career 2006–2018

Sterling was selected by the Thrashers in the 5th round (145th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. In his first professional season he won the Willie Marshall Award as the AHL's leading goal scorer, the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award as rookie of the year. In addition, he was named to the All-Rookie Team and AHL First All-Star Team.

Early life

Sterling, who is Jewish,[1] was born in Los Angeles, California. He grew up in Pasadena, California, having been introduced to the sport by an uncle who bought Sterling his first pair of skates at age two.[2] He played in the 1998 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Los Angeles Junior Kings minor ice hockey team.[3] His GPA in high school was 4.2.[4]

Playing career

Sterling's four-year college career was spent with Colorado College, where he played with future Atlanta Thrashers teammate Colin Stuart. He accumulated 108 goals and 184 points in 150 games played over his college career and was drafted in the fifth round, 145th overall, by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Sterling scored 28 points in 30 games as a sophomore for Colorado College. He finished third in scoring for the Tigers, missing the first part of the season due to an injury. Sterling's best collegiate season came in 2004–05, when he had 34 goals, 29 assists and 63 points. That year, he was a top 3 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to college hockey's top player. The following year, in his senior season, he was a top 10 finalist.

Sterling with the Baby Penguins in 2010.

Sterling garnered many accolades in his first season of pro hockey. Playing with the Chicago Wolves, the Thrashers' American Hockey League affiliate, he amassed 55 goals and 97 points in 77 games. He also added 12 points in 15 playoff games. He won the Willie Marshall Award as the league's leading goal scorer, and also won the Dudley "Red" Garret Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year. In addition, he was also named to the All-Rookie Team and AHL First All-Star Team.

With his stellar play in his only season in the AHL, Sterling made the Atlanta Thrashers roster out of training camp for the 2007–08 NHL season. He would score his first NHL goal against Johan Holmqvist on October 20, 2007. However, he was unable to maintain a high level of play on the struggling Thrashers and was sent back to Chicago shortly into the season. He would be called up several times during the year.

During the 2008–09 season, Sterling's goal production dropped by 21 from 38 the previous season to only 17, his lowest total since 2003–04 when he was with Colorado College. He rebounded in 2009–10 to score 34 goals for Chicago in 55 games, tying with Ryan Keller of the Binghamton Senators for 6th in the league,[5] however he would not play in any NHL games for the first time since his rookie season with the Wolves.

Brett Sterling's 1st goal as a Penguin in his debut with the team.

On June 23, 2010, Sterling was traded by the Thrashers, along with Mike Vernace and a 7th round selection in 2010 NHL Entry Draft (Lee Moffie), to the San Jose Sharks for future considerations in order to help the Thrashers facilitate an earlier trade of Dustin Byfuglien from the Chicago Blackhawks.[6] However, with his contract set to expire the Sharks chose not to re-sign Sterling and on July 3, 2010, Sterling was signed by the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 1-year contract, worth $500,000.[7] Despite his new surroundings Sterling was unable to make the Penguins' roster coming out of training camp and was placed on waivers.[8] After spending most of the year in the AHL Sterling was called up to the NHL on February 10, 2011, he made his Penguins debut later in the day in a game against the Los Angeles Kings.[9] He scored his first goal as a Penguin in the game.[10] After playing 7 games for the Penguins, registering 3 goals and 5 points he was re-assened to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.[11] He finished the year with 27 goals and 53 points in 65 games for the Baby Penguins.[5]

In the off season Sterling signed a one-year two-way contract with the St. Louis Blues.[12] He began the year with St. Louis farm team the Peoria Rivermen. After 18 games Sterling was tied for the league lead in goals, 12, second in points with 22 and was called up by the Blues.[13] He proceeded to make his Blues debut against his former team, Pittsburgh. In all he played four games with the Blues without registering a point.[14] Sterling returned to Peoria and after playing 54 games and leading the team with 22 goals, he was traded (though his rights were retained by St. Louis) to the Portland Pirates for Patrick O'Sullivan. Sterling was the Rivermen's leading goal scorer at the time.[15] He finished the year scoring 8 goals and 14 points with Portland as the Pirates failed to make the playoffs.[5]

On the move again in the off-season Sterling returned to the site of his most AHL success signing an AHL contract with the Wolves. He was reunited with Darren Haydar, who played on a line with Sterling when he won the AHL goal scoring title.[16]

For season 2013–14, Sterling signed a one-year contract with HV71 in the Swedish Hockey League.[17] Sterling failed to establish his career offensive output totalling just 11 goals and 20 points in 43 games, before finishing the season on loan with SHL competitor Örebro HK.

On June 25, 2014, Sterling changed European leagues, in opting to join Austrian club, EC Red Bull Salzburg of the EBEL on a one-year contract.[18]

Sterling dominated the action on the ice for Salzburg, helping them to a league championship in 2015. He remained with Salzburg in the 2015–16 season, and again helped them to a league championship.

As a free agent in the following summer, Sterling opted to return to familiar grounds, signing a one-year AHL deal with the Chicago Wolves on July 22, 2016.[19] After continuing through to the 2017–18 season with the Wolves, Sterling registered 25 points in 45 games before opting to end his professional career after 12 years.[20]

International
Medal record
Representing  United States
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2004 Helsinki
IIHF U18 Championships
Gold medal – first place 2002 Piešťany

Sterling has represented the United States internationally in three junior level competitions, the 2002 U-18 World Championships, and the 2003 and 2004 World Junior Championships. Sterling scored 9 goals and 12 points in eight games helping the U.S. Under-18 team win its first-ever gold medal. In 2004, he scored 3 goals as part of the gold medal-winning US squad.[7]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1999–2000 Los Angeles Junior Kings 16U AAA 35 45 25 70 — — — — —
2000–01 U.S. NTDP U17 USDP 13 — — — — —
2000–01 U.S. NTDP U18 NAHL 47 29 15 44 72 — — — — —
2001–02 U.S. NTDP U18 USDP 31 21 15 36 18 — — — — —
2001–02 U.S. NTDP Juniors USHL 10 6 3 9 8 — — — — —
2001–02 U.S. NTDP Juniors NAHL 9 2 1 3 10 — — — — —
2002–03 Colorado College WCHA 36 27 11 38 30 — — — — —
2003–04 Colorado College WCHA 30 16 12 28 40 — — — — —
2004–05 Colorado College WCHA 43 34 29 63 74 — — — — —
2005–06 Colorado College WCHA 42 31 24 55 66 — — — — —
2006–07 Chicago Wolves AHL 77 55 42 97 96 15 7 5 12 24
2007–08 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 13 1 2 3 14 — — — — —
2007–08 Chicago Wolves AHL 70 38 33 71 116 16 3 5 8 18
2008–09 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 6 1 0 1 2 — — — — —
2008–09 Chicago Wolves AHL 52 17 22 39 84 — — — — —
2009–10 Chicago Wolves AHL 55 34 22 56 38 9 4 6 10 4
2010–11 Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 65 26 27 53 88 12 2 4 6 10
2010–11 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 7 3 2 5 16 — — — — —
2011–12 Peoria Rivermen AHL 54 22 26 48 74 — — — — —
2011–12 St. Louis Blues NHL 4 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2011–12 Portland Pirates AHL 19 8 6 14 30 — — — — —
2012–13 Chicago Wolves AHL 48 24 21 45 50 — — — — —
2013–14 HV71 SHL 43 11 9 20 28 — — — — —
2013–14 Örebro HK SHL 5 1 2 3 4 — — — — —
2014–15 EC Red Bull Salzburg EBEL 49 23 28 51 100 13 10 11 21 26
2015–16 EC Red Bull Salzburg EBEL 46 33 16 49 121 19 9 4 13 71
2016–17 Chicago Wolves AHL 61 11 18 29 40 4 1 1 2 6
2017–18 Chicago Wolves AHL 45 15 10 25 46 2 0 0 0 2
AHL totals 546 251 226 477 662 58 17 21 38 64
NHL totals 30 5 4 9 32 — — — — —

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2002 United States WJC18 1st place, gold medalist(s) 8 9 3 12 4
2003 United States WJC 4th 7 0 2 2 4
2004 United States WJC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 6 3 0 3 0
Junior totals 21 12 5 17 8

Awards and honors
Award Year
College
All-WCHA Rookie Team 2002–03
All-WCHA First Team 2004–05
AHCA West First-Team All-American 2004–05
WCHA All-Tournament Team 2005 [21]
All-WCHA First Team 2005–06
AHCA West First-Team All-American 2005–06
AHL
AHL MVP All-Star Classic 2006–07
Dudley "Red" Garret Memorial Trophy 2006–07
Willie Marshall Award 2006–07

See also

References
  1. "Professional Hockey Review: 2010–11; National Hockey League". Jewish Sports Review. 8 (87): 7. September–October 2011.
  2. Ferda, Tom (February 2009). "Sterling Enjoying A Silver Pro Career". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  3. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  4. "CC's Brett Sterling Earns CSTV Honor :: Sterling currently leads the #1 ranked Tigers with 20 goals". Archived from the original on January 20, 2015.
  5. "2009–10 AHL League Leaders". Hockey DB.com. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
  6. "Sharks playing a role in deal thats sending Dustin Byfuglien to Eastern Conference". Mercury News. June 23, 2010. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  7. "Penguins Sign Left Wing Sterling". NHL.com. July 3, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  8. "Eleven Players Placed on Waivers Wednesday". TSN. September 29, 2010. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  9. Rorabaugh, Seth (February 10, 2011). "Penguins recall Craig, Johnson, Sterling and Vitale – 02–10–11". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  10. Anderson, Shelly (February 11, 2011). "Staal's overtime goal leads Penguins past Kings, 2–1". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  11. "Penguins Re-Assign Forward Brett Sterling". Pittsburgh Penguins. February 26, 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  12. "Blues Sign Prospect Brett Sterling". St. Louis Blues. July 4, 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  13. "Blues Recall Brett Sterling from Peoria". Peoria Rivermen. November 20, 2011. Archived from the original on November 29, 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  14. "Blues Assign Defenseman Cade Fairchild And Forward Brett Sterling". St. Louis Blues. December 3, 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  15. Eminian, Dave (March 2, 2012). "Sniper exchange: Rivermen trade Sterling, get O'Sullivan". Journal Star. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  16. Eminian, Dave (July 12, 2012). "Wolves sign ex-Rivermen ace Sterling". Journal Star. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  17. Wengel, Daniel (May 8, 2013). "Brett Sterling är klar för HV71" (in Swedish). HV71. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
  18. "Brett Sterling to return to Jonkoping as Red Bull Salzburg player". hockeysverige.se (in Swedish). June 25, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  19. "Brett Sterling returns to the Wolves". Chicago Wolves. July 22, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  20. "Back where it all began, Brett Sterling is ready for one more run with the Wolves". The Athletic. April 21, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  21. "WCHA Tourney History". WCHA. Archived from the original on July 2, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
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