ESPN

Nate Ewell

  (1:22 PM)

We'll be joined today by Colorado College's Brett Sterling, the nation's leading goal scorer last year and our first repeat college hockey guest on The Show.

Nate Ewell

  (1:23 PM)

Brett and the Tigers are preparing to face Notre Dame and Air Force this weekend, with Friday's game against the Irish marking the regular-season debut of college hockey on ESPNU (9:30 p.m. ET).

Nate Ewell

  (1:32 PM)

Brett will be here momentarily and we'll field your questions ... then we'll take a couple general college hockey comments later in the half-hour.

Nate Ewell

  (1:37 PM)

We're still tracking down Brett in Colorado Springs ... in the meantime, let's talk some college pucks.

Steve Dallas, TX

Guys, will Denver repeat as the champion?

Nate Ewell

  (1:39 PM)

Hard to pick against George Gwozdecky's club after the job he's done the past two years, even if they struggled mightily last weekend at Maine. Best we can say at this point -- they'll be in the mix. Right now I think you could name seven or eight teams that are legit national title contenders.

Nate Ewell

  (1:39 PM)

And Denver's not the only one of those teams without a win yet ...

hurley (nyc)

will leneveu's success (already starting in some of phoenix's games) help mckee's hobey chances, in so far as it shows that leneveu's previous numbers were not simply a product of a defensive team in a weak league, thereby legitimizing what mckee has done? (by the way, i saw leneveu in person in a preseason game against the sharks - he was excellent, made over 40 saves in a 2-1 loss)

Nate Ewell

  (1:40 PM)

That might be a long thread of logic for the voters to follow, Hurley, but I think the doubts about McKee started to get erased in last year's NCAA Tournament.

Nate Ewell

  (1:40 PM)

We've got Brett on the line so let's get started ...

Brett Sterling

  (1:41 PM)

Thanks for having me. I look forward to fielding your questions.

Chris (Miami, Fla.)

Hey Brett, which WCHA team do you look forward playing the most?

Brett Sterling

  (1:42 PM)

Most likely Denver because of the rivalry and the fact that they've won the last two national championships. I'm kind of looking forward to everyone -- Minnesota with their freshman class, same with North Dakota. Like we always say, there's no one you don't look forward to playing in this league.

Bryan (West Covina, California)

Brett, I have followed your entire career from California to Colorado, What would be the one thing that has kept you going and made you prove all of your nay sayers wrong? Who is the one person in your life you look to for inspiration?

Brett Sterling

  (1:43 PM)

What's kept me going is mostly my love for the game, but at the same time it's proving people wrong who say I can't make it because of my size.

Brett Sterling

  (1:43 PM)

As for inspiration, I'd say my family, and following my dream to one day play professional hockey.

Chris (Atlanta)

Do yuo think the changes in the NHL this season will suit your style of play down the road?

Brett Sterling

  (1:44 PM)

I hope so. It seems like there's a lot more scoring goign on in the NHL and hopefully that will suit my game. My hope is that this will open the game up for smaller guys like myself, but the test is going on right now.

Nate Ewell

  (1:44 PM)

Brett is a Thrashers' draft pick, thus the Atlanta interest ...

Pete (Colorado Springs, CO)

With all the early injuries at CC, you and Marty have been on the ice an awful lot in the early going. Are you guys exhausted yet...or, do you just love being out there as much as possible?

Brett Sterling

  (1:45 PM)

We love being out there. Marty and I know that with how thin our team is with all the injuries, and we know we have to play more. We're pretty excited about it. It's tough sometimes playing a lot of minutes but as seniors we know we have to pick up the slack.

Danny (St. Paul, MN)

Brett, what do you attribute your chemistry with Marty Sertich to? What's it like playing with him?

Brett Sterling

  (1:47 PM)

I think the chemistry comes from just working with him. Our styles complement each other -- Marty is more of a playmaker and I'm more of a shooter. As far as what it's like to play with him, it's a joy. He's got some of the best hands I've ever seen and some of the best vision -- it's just a joy being out there playing with him.

Nick, Minneapolis, MN

Brett...You seem to hang out a lot in front of the net on the powerplay; is your job easier with what seems to be a crackdown on obstruction penalties early this season?

Brett Sterling

  (1:49 PM)

I don't think they're quite as strict with the calls when we're on the power play. It's a difficult job in front of the net, because there's a lot of stickwork that goes on. But if that's what it takes to help my team score goals, that's what I'll do.

Ryan, White Bear Lake

Brett - Congrats on your success so far at CC. I love watching WHCA hockey. 2 questions: 1) What is the atmosphere like as a player in St. Paul for the Final Five? It seems very electric from a fans perspective. 2). Is there a sleeper team in the WCHA to watch out for this year?

Brett Sterling

  (1:50 PM)

The atmosphere at the Final Five is unbelievable. The only time it can be really adverse is when you play Minnesota because there's 15,000 Gopher fans and 150 Tiger fans. But it's just fun to be involved in that.

Brett Sterling

  (1:51 PM)

Second, I don't know if there is a sleeper team, at least in my opinion, because every team we look at has so many talented players. No one is expected to do poorly. Even though some teams have finished lower the last few years, they have a lot of talent and could have easily finished a lot higher.

Matt (Boulder, CO)

Are you out to win the Hobey this year over Marty?

Brett Sterling

  (1:51 PM)

I don't know. It's way early to tell. Maybe this year we can share it together.

eyeofthetiger (Fountain, Colo.)

The Tigers lost a lot on the blue line when Stuart and Greco bolted early and Petiot graduated. Has the team's defensive philosophy changed at all since you guys aren't as experienced back there?

Brett Sterling

  (1:52 PM)

Not at all. The departure of players allowed other guys to step up and show what they have. I don't think our defense is going to lose any momentum -- not that we don't miss those guys, but we have other guys who can step up.

AJ (Columbus)

What were your impressions of the Buckeyes in week one?

Brett Sterling

  (1:53 PM)

They're a great team -- best skating team I've seen in a long time. They've got solid goaltending. Big, strong, physical D that play within the rules, and top caliber forwards. They were one of the better teams I've seen in my four years.

kevin, Virginia, MN

Brett-I've seen you do some great goal celebrations in your career. Are they planned, or do they come spur of the moment?

Brett Sterling

  (1:54 PM)

When I get so excited scoring a goal it just kind of happens naturally. More of a spur of the moment celebration. We joke around in practice sometimes, but usually I get shot down by my teammates -- usually it's Marty laughing at me. So in the game I just get caught up in the moment.

Carl: Colorado Springs, CO

Do you think that you will score 50 goals this season?

Brett Sterling

  (1:56 PM)

Those are some lofty expectations there. I'd like to surpass my total from last year, but I know, with as well as I produced last year, it'll be tough. I'd love to do that, but whether it's possible or not is another story. It's something I'll shoot for, but whether it's a realistic goal, who knows.

Brett Sterling

  (1:56 PM)

Thanks for your questions, and I hope you enjoy the games this year ...

Nate Ewell

  (1:56 PM)

Thanks, Brett, for stopping by ... we've got a couple more minutes of college hockey chatter to go here on The Show.

Nate Ewell

  (1:57 PM)

One note on Brett ... he's one of the best pure goal scorers in the college game, and as one of the questions alluded to, he's not a big guy. Just has a knack for the net. Should be fun to watch tomorrow night and the rest of the year.

matty j (boston)

one of the stories to watch this season will be the slew of talented freshman. who has made the biggest impact so far. i'll go with maine's ben bishop. who do you think will have the biggest impact over the course of the year?

Nate Ewell

  (1:58 PM)

Agreed, Matty ... Bishop's made a big impact, befitting his 6-foot-7 frame. Can't imagine there's much net to shoot at when he's in there.

Nate Ewell

  (1:59 PM)

Over the course of the year I still think Phil Kessel will be the best freshman. He was dazzling at times in Minnesota's series with UAF, even though they struggled as a team.

hurley (nyc)

harvard is ranked in the top 20 in a lot of preseason polls. isn't that a little high for a team that lost so much talent and leadership?

Nate Ewell

  (2:00 PM)

I'd agree ... I see four to six ECACHL teams that should be better than the Crimson. That ranking surprises me, although they'll get better under Ted Donato, I think.

Joe Alaska

Brett are you a big man on campus with many girlfriends

Nate Ewell

  (2:00 PM)

Sounds like Brett has a lot of fans ...

Nate Ewell

  (2:00 PM)

OK, one more and we've got to go ...

Patrick (St Paul)

The Gophers struggeled mightily at UAF last week. Is this a sign of things to come because of the reliance on some you guys? Or was this just rust?

Nate Ewell

  (2:01 PM)

I think it was mostly due to UAF. They came out flying -- I was really impressed with their tenacity. Perhaps they caught the Gophers off-guard a bit, but I think Minnesota will be fine in the long run. And we may have found a sleeper team in the CCHA ...

Nate Ewell

  (2:02 PM)

Thanks, everybody, for your questions ... always a pleasure. Enjoy tomorrow's game on ESPNU and the rest of the games around the country and insidecollegehockey.com will be back on The Show next week.