Stingrays’ line combination lighting it up

NORTH CHARLESTON , S.C. – The South Carolina Stingrays (21-14-1-1) are suddenly in the thick of the ECHL playoff picture after stumbling out of the starting blocks with an uncustomary slow start.   A number of players are contributing, however one line has recently put the North Charleston Coliseum crowds abuzz with their skilled play and speed.   None are large by hockey standards, but the chemistry between the three is one reason why the ‘Rays have gone unbeaten in regulation time in seven straight games. This streak includes six wins and one loss overtime loss.   Rob Ricci (17g-14-a) 31 points, Tommy Goebel (7g-18a) 25 points and Samson Mahbod (4g-9a) 13 points have caught the imagination of local fans with their collective speed, passing skill and ability to put the puck in the net.   ‘Rays’ Coach Cail MacLean put the line together five games ago. He did so after Mahbod, who came to the ‘Rays via a trade from Elmira in early December, returned from an injury that had him on the injured reserve list for almost a month.   MacLean was a little unsure combining the three players, all 5’10” or less, together on one line. Would it work or would other teams use physical size to make the line vulnerable defensively on the boards, in the corners and around the “Rays’ net?   Would size slow the three speedster’s offensive efforts?   The immediate answer is no to both questions. The three have combined to produce 20 points and nine goals over the past five contests. Most of the goals have also been crowd pleasers coming on great breakouts, combination passes, swift skating and flourishing finishes. Also importantly, they have posted a plus/minus total of plus-22, since they were teamed together.  

Rob Ricci, a 26-year old, at 5’9” and 165 lbs, is in his second full season with South Carolina. He arrived in the low country late in the 2008-09 season, after finishing his college career at Merrimack College. He played in seven playoff games in that Kelly Cup winning season. Last season the Brampton, Ontario Canada native appeared in all 72 games for the ‘Rays, finishing with 50 points, including 25 goals. Ricci played junior hockey in the United States Hockey League with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, thereby maintaining his NCAA eligibility to play college hockey in the United States.   Ricci has been on fire in December, scoring seven times, in five games and picking up an assist, as he and his line mates clicked immediately. His exploits earned him the ECHL Player of the Week Award for last week.  Tommy Goebel, a 26-year old, at 5’7” and 166 lbs, played four years of NCAA collegiate hockey.   He began his collegiate career at Michigan State before finishing his last two years with Ohio State University. He was a teammate of ‘Rays’ defenseman Johann Kroll at OSU.   He played junior hockey in the North American Hockey League at home in the Cleveland area with the Cleveland Barons. He turned pro at the end of the 2007-08 season, appearing in two AHL games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He divided his time in the 2008-09 season, between the AHL and ECHL and then played professionally in Germany last season. An off season targeted acquisition for MacLean, he has appeared in 26 games this season.   In Goebel’s last five games, he set up five goals and is a robust plus six.   He is the team’s overall third best scorer this season despite missing ten games from late November into mid December with an injury.       Samson Mahbod, a 21-year old, at 5’10” and 175 lbs, is in his first professional season. He played nine games with Elmira before being acquired in a trade for future considerations by South Carolina.   He is a resident of Montreal, Canada, and is one of only a few players in professional hockey of Iranian descent.   The fast skating forward skated in just two games after his acquisition, before he was injured in his second appearance. He returned to the lineup on January 2.   His impact has been immediate. In his first game back, he scored two late third period goals, in the last five and half minutes of the game to tie and then win a game against Gwinnett. He followed that game with three assists in his next contest; another win versus Gwinnet. He then picked up points on assists in two of his next three games.     In addition to his game winning goals against Gwinnett, he scored the game winner in a shootout win last Saturday. He was the only successful scorer in South Carolina’s 3-2 shootout win against Trenton. He has made some awesome passes and displayed unselfishness in pushing the puck to his line mates without hesitation. Most recently he set up Ricci’s last goal of a hat trick, by giving up a clear shot on an empty net to pass it up to Ricci. Mahbod played five seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League before signing with Elmira.               A winning streak of course comes from the efforts of more than just a few of a team’s players and there have been solid contributions up and down the lineup. This “energy line” however now has fans watching for the three players to come over the boards and start buzzing into the opposition’s end zone. Hopefully for low country fans, the buzz continues.   Contact the author at Phil.Brand@prohockeynews.com