Bertram grows up into leadership role

So he's not the youngest kid in college hockey anymore, eh?

Dan Bertram was 17 when he left Calgary, Alberta for Chestnut Hill. It's a common age for freshmen to come to college; but in the world of ice hockey, it's a rarity.

"Last year was for sure a tough year, just the adjustment of it," the sophomore forward says. "I knew that's how it was going to be."

It's certainly not an easy feat to play in the Hockey East at such a young age.

"I didn't know how strong [my game] should have been," says Bertram. "It was about getting your feet wet."

Things started off hot. Bertram opened his career with the Eagles by scoring two goals against Denver back in October 2004. He notched another two goals a few games later, this time versus North Dakota, and followed it up with a tally against Maine in November. Such a solid performance early on garnered him Hockey East Rookie of the Week honors - twice.

And when Boston College was up against Cornell in December's Florida College Classic, Bertram scored a power-play goal to help the team to a 4-2 win.

Then the streak simmered down. The team got in a bit of a rut following winter break, and Bertram was playing with a high-ankle sprain and a shoulder injury. He finished up the season notching 17 points on nine goals and eight assists.

But if ther was doubt on how good of a hockey player he was, it was all put to rest at April's Under-18 World Junior Championship. Bertram played to his potential, scoring four goals in six games and earning a silver medal.

"That was nice," he recalls. "It kind of showed me where I was at as a player. 'Hey, that's how much I've come along against kids my own age,' I thought.

"That was nice to see, and it was a great confidence booster for sure," Bertram continues.

All About Confidence

It's the start of a new season. Bertram is another year older, and he's bringing something new to the ice for his sophomore contests - a lot of confidence.

"I think the biggest thing I built on for this year is confidence," he says. "I feel much more confident in myself and my game as a sophomore."

It's a good thing, too. Coping with the loss of 10 veteran players to graduation and the early departure of standout Patrick Eaves, BC isn't hoping - it's expecting - players like Bertram to step it up.

"I know that this year I'm going to be counted on a lot more," he says, "and I'm ready for that."

"We're very encouraged by [Bertram's] freshman year," says head coach Jerry York, who discussed the player in a media release. "He showed signs of being an exceptional player here at BC, despite his youth."

Bertram's size - officially listed as 5 feet 11 inches, 175 pounds - is deceiving. He's a strong skater who can stop on a dime, has a slap shot that turns heads, and brings tenacity to the ice that frustrates his opponents.

"He's a very skilled player with a lot of grit to him," York says. "He'll see a lot of ice time."

The Red Line Report compares him to a "nasty Steve Sullivan," noting Bertram's "great speed and agility" and his knack for handling the puck well in traffic.

"[He] erased the memory of a poor freshman season with a dynamic performance at World U-18s," The Report continues. "Throwing his smallish body around with reckless abandon, the guided missile propelled himself to a bushel full of goals."

Being a Leader

When he pulls on his BC sweater this season, Bertram isn't just looking to be a powerful forward.

"I want to be counted on offensively and defensively," he says. "At the end of the day, you can't have enough guys that want to compete at both ends of the ice.

"A big thing for me is being a plus player," Bertram says. "Being a guy who can be counted on to score goals, but also can be counted on to keep them out of your own net."

He wants to be a leader - both on and off the ice.

"The biggest goal for me is just to be a leader on the team," he says. "I want to be a guy that can be counted on during every game."

Off the ice, he's already begun reaching out to some of the younger guys.

"I know what I was like," Bertram recalls. "A big, wide-eyed freshman. You come in and you don't know what's going on, where you're supposed to be. But you figure it out pretty quick."

His advice?

"I told them some of the stuff that helped me," he says. "The biggest thing is staying on top of your classes. That's a big thing; you don't want to be worrying about school. Also, come to the rink everyday. You've got to love coming to the rink, and these guys sure do."

This year's Eagles have a lot of youth, something Bertram knows a thing or two about.

"We've got a lot of skill coming in with the freshmen," he notes. "I think we all know it's going to take us a couple of games before we get our groove. And I remember what it was like being a freshman - getting used to the game and the pace being so much quicker."

BC is 1-1-1 to start the season, with a win at Bowling Green, a loss at Michigan, and a tie at Northeastern.

"I feel that we've started good," he says. "People will say, 'Well, you're not 3-0.' But we've learned a lot of little lessons that can't be taught in a win and a loss, but more in the battle situation that we've been put in. We're going to be a good team and we know that."

Oh Canada

Hockey just comes natural to Bertram.

"Growing up in Canada, I guess as a young kid, it's kind of like football [in America], you know?," he asks. "Hockey is Canada's pastime."

His father, Jim, played, so it seemed logical for son to lace up his skates as well. But his youngest memory of hockey doesn't even take place on the ice.

"I was about 2 or 3 years old and I remember walking around my basement before I could skate, just walking around with my skates on," Bertram says. "I thought that was the coolest thing."

For a kid who grew up watching and loving the game, life has become pretty sweet. Bertram was drafted in the second round this summer by the Chicago Blackhawks.

"You can't pick a better place," he says. "They've got a young team and they're growing."

And whether the pros are in his future or not, Bertram is just happy where he is at. That's why the finance major picked BC.

"You can't pick a better school for academics and athletics," he says. "If you're going to go to college, go somewhere where you can have both of those. BC was the first school I ever visited, and I fell in love with it."