Rob Ricci

Rob Ricci (born December 12, 1984 in Brampton, Ontario) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL.

Playing career
Ricci started his junior career with the Georgetown Raiders of the Ontario Provincial A Junior Hockey League, playing one game in the 2001–02 season with no points or penalty minutes. For the 2002–03 season, Ricci moved to the Milton Merchants (also of the OPJHL), where he put up an impressive 76 points in combined goals and assists and 10 penalty minutes over 49 games.

Ricci skated with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the United States Hockey League from 2003 to 2005, earning 99 points in regular season play and 8 points in the post-season. Ricci finished the 2004–05 season with a plus/minus of +20. The RoughRiders would win both the regular season points championship (Anderson Cup) and the post-season Clark Cup that year.

From 2005 to 2009, Ricci attended Merrimack College, where he played all but his sophomore year due to an "unspecified violation of team rules and school policy." Ricci led the Warriors in scoring during his freshman year, and in points (34), assists (21), and power play goals (6) his junior season. He served as assistant captain his junior year and was named a co-captain for his senior season. Ricci was named team MVP for all three seasons he played at Merrimack.

At the end of the 2008–09 season, Ricci signed with the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL and launched his pro career. He played 4 regular season games with the Wranglers in which he earned 2 assists and 4 penalty minutes. Ricci moved to the South Carolina Stingrays for the post-season, scoring one goal in what would become a league-record third successful run for the Kelly Cup.

Ricci returned to the Stingrays for the 2009–10 season, earning 50 points in combined goals (25) and assists (25) in regular season play, as well as scoring one goal in the Stingrays' first-round playoff elimination. Ricci earned his first professional hat trick against the Cincinnati Cyclones in March of that year.

Ricci re-signed with the Stingrays for the 2010–11 season. Ricci tallied his second professional hat trick against the Gwinnett Gladiators in a 4–1 victory in January of 2011.

Career notes
During the 2010 holiday season, Ricci worked for a small holiday decoration business owned by fellow Stingray Grant Farrell.

Awards

 * Regular season MVP, Merrimack College (2005–06, 2007–08, 2008–09)
 * Sher-Wood Hockey ECHL Player of the Week (January 3-9, 2011)