Tiger Tracks

I don't usually get reader feedback, but every time I've written about Colorado College hockey alumni, I always get a ton of emails. So I hope "Tiger Tracks" will keep you informed once a week with current stats or news on CC's professional hockey players.

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September marks the start of NHL training camps, which means that hockey season is just around the corner. Several CC alums who played in the American Hockey League last year have a chance to crack NHL rosters this year, including Marty Sertich and Brett Sterling, who both graduated in 2005.

The Dallas Morning News reports that Sertich will not play for the Stars rookie team in an eight-team round-robin tournament, which starts Friday in Traverse City, Mich. Instead, he will be preparing to challenge for a spot on the Stars' roster starting Sept. 14. The only other Minnesota-native forward on the Stars training camp roster? Former CC left wing Toby Petersen (1996-2000), who played briefly with Sertich on the Iowa Stars (AHL) last season before he was called up to the Edmonton Oilers. Petersen became an unrestricted free agent in the offseason and the Stars signed him to a one-year, two-way contract in July.

Some are calling Sterling a lock to make the Atlanta Thrashers' roster after he ran away with the AHL scoring title and Rookie of the Year honors last year. Sterling racked up 97 points (55 goals, 42 assists) in 77 games with the Chicago Wolves. Sterling will be joined by fellow CC alums, classmate Joey Crabb and Colin Stuart (2000-04), when camp starts Sept. 14.

Former CC goaltender Curtis McElhinney (2001-05) will be battling for a back-up position on the Calgary Flames after emerging as a starter for Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights (AHL) last season and posting a 2.13 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage along with a 35-17-1 record and seven shutouts.

That's all for today. If you want to know more about a former Tiger, leave me a comment or drop an email to kate.crandall@gazette.com, and I'll do what I can to track him down!