Sterling Strikes Gold As Ahl's Outstanding Rookie
Published on April 12, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Chicago Wolves News Release
Chicago Wolves left wing BRETT STERLING has been named the winner of the 2006-07 Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award as the American Hockey League's outstanding rookie, marking the first time in franchise history that a Wolves player has earned league rookie of the year honors.
STERLING leads the AHL with 52 goals - tied for the fifth-highest single-season total in franchise history and the most by a Chicago player in eight years - and ranks fourth overall with 93 points in 74 contests during his professional debut. The Atlanta Thrashers' fifth choice, 145th overall, in the 2003 National Hockey League Entry Draft, STERLING is just the fifth first-year player in league history and the third player in the 13-year existence of the Wolves to reach the 50-goal plateau.
"Brett has had an amazing start to his professional career and has worked hard to get to this point. On behalf of the entire Wolves organization, I congratulate him," said Wolves General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff.
The 22-year-old left wing, who was named to the 2006-07 AHL All-Rookie team and the 2006-07 AHL First All-Star Team last week, also paces the league with 21 power-play goals. He was named MVP of the 2007 Rbk Hockey AHL All-Star Game and earned back-to-back AHL Rookie of the Month honors in November and December. STERLING was also awarded the CCM/AHL Milestone of the Month award in March for his 50-goal achievement.
The Los Angeles native shattered Chicago's 12-year-old single-season franchise record for goals by a rookie in the first 20 games of the season. In the course of his rookie campaign, he also broke the club record for points by a first-year player and established a franchise record by notching a marker in nine consecutive games from Dec. 12 to Dec. 29, registering 13 during that span, which is the longest streak of its kind in the AHL this season.
STERLING has posted three of Chicago's six hat tricks this year, and has notched multiple points in a game on 26 occasions, which includes nine with three or more. Prior to this season, a Wolves first-year pro had netted three goals in a contest just once in club history.
American Hockey League Stories from April 12, 2007
- Sharks Enhance Technology In Arena For Calder Cup Playoff Run - Worcester Sharks
- Pirates Final Two Games This Weekend - Portland Pirates
- Sterling Strikes Gold As Ahl's Outstanding Rookie - Chicago Wolves
- Rampage to Give Fans More Than $2,000 at Fan Appreciation Night - San Antonio Rampage
- Canucks Recall Nathan Smith and Jannik Hansen - Manitoba Moose
- Collins Assigned to Providence, Carlson Released - Providence Bruins
- Seventh Annual Adopt-A-Kid A Success - Syracuse Crunch
- Wolves' Sterling named winner of AHL's Dudley "Red" Garrett Award for 2006-07 - AHL
- Columbus Blue Jackets Assign Forward Alexandre Picard To Syracuse - Syracuse Crunch
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