Thrashers Sign 2003 NHL Entry Draft
Selection Brett Sterling


ATLANTA (July 6, 2006) -- The Atlanta Thrashers have signed forward Brett Sterling, who was selected by the team in the fifth round, 145th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Sterling, 22, registered 184 points (108 goals, 76 assists) and 210 penalty minutes in 150 games over four seasons with Colorado College (WCHA). The 5-8, 180-pound left wing currently ranks third on the school’s all-time goals list and is tied for 10th in points. He ranks first on both the Colorado College and WCHA’s all-time list with 56 power-play goals.

The Los Angeles native recorded 55 points (31 goals, 24 assists) in 41 games last season, leading Colorado College and ranking third in the WCHA and fifth in the NCAA Div. 1. A finalist for the 2006 Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA’s top player, he also ranked second in the league and third in the NCAA Div. 1 in goals.

Sterling finished second among Division I players with 63 points (34 goals, 29 assists) as a junior, and was among the top three finalists for the 2005 Hobey Baker Award. That season Sterling topped all Division I players in goals, goals per game (0.79), power-play tallies (18) and power-play goals per game (0.42).

Sterling, who was part of the United States Development Program for two seasons from 2000-02, led the United States to a Gold Medal at the 2004 World Junior Championships in Finland, notching three goals in six games. He helped the United States to a fourth-place finish at the 2003 World Junior Championships, held at Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia, notching two assists and four penalty minutes in seven games. Sterling also led Team USA’s Under-18 squad to its first-ever Gold Medal at the 2002 Under-18 World Championships in Slovakia, registering 12 points (nine goals, three assists) and four penalty minutes in eight games.