Sich Returns For Encore Performance
Published on October 24, 2006 under SPHL (SPHL)
Florida Seals News Release
CELEBRATION, Fla. - Memo to all SPHL teams and goalies: Heeeeeeee's baaaaaack.
Florida Seals Head Coach / V.P. of Hockey Operations Tommy Stewart and General Manager Bryan Elliott announced today that they had come to terms with last season's SPHL Rookie Of the Year Rob Sich, returning him to the Silver Spurs Arena for Opening Night on October 27 against the Huntsville Havoc.
"I'm here and we're going to take care of business," Sich said in an interview during the Seals' Open House and Treasure Hunt at the Silver Spurs Arena. "The team looks better than ever and we're going to go and make a pretty serious championship run here."
The last eleven months have certainly been a whirlwind for the 22 years old from Windsor, Ontario. After joining the Seals last November, he began what was to be a magical season. He started on the third line and made enforcer Andrew Katzberg into a bona fide scoring threat while piling up goals and assists himself. Following the first of the year, Coach Stewart put him on a line with Justin Keller and veteran Craig Miller. That combination tore up the SPHL and helped the Seals reach the league finals.
Sich's totals - 29 goals and 27 assists for 56 points in just 46 games - led to the league choosing him as the top rookie.
"We clicked right out of the gates," Sich said about the way he, Miller and Keller worked together. "Now we know what we can do when we play together so that's good for Tommy as well."
"Even if he splits us up at first, he always knows he's got a line that he can fall back on," he continued. "Just knowing the way each other plays makes it easy for one another."
It continued in the playoffs. In the nine games Sich played, he had four goals and three assists. None of the goals was any bigger than the game winner in Game 3 against Fayetteville. It came with 36 seconds left in regulation and nearly blew the roof off of the Spurs building as the crowd erupted.
Coach Stewart knew that Sich had to get an opportunity to play at a higher level so he made a phone call to old friend Rick Kowalsky, the coach of the Trenton Titans of the ECHL. The next thing Sich knew, he was heading for New Jersey.
Once in Trenton, Sich admitted to being a bit nervous but Kowalsky sat him down and put the young forward at ease.
"It was great. It felt like I was back here," Sich said. "I looked at Rick and he had similar drills to Tommy. They are similar coaches. It helped definitely with my confidence and the nerves as well too."
"Going into a new camp with new faces everywhere, that's the worst feeling ever," he added. "Rick helped. He talked to me about everything and what was going on. I totally respected that and it made things a lot easier."
Sich was feeling good about his chances with the Titans but events beyond his control came into play. On September 22, it was announced that the Titans had been sold to the New Jersey Devils. That meant that there would be a dual affiliation since Trenton is finishing their deal with the Philadelphia Flyers organization. In short, if a player was not property of the Devils or Flyers, he stood a very good chance of being cut from the roster. Free agent Sich got caught in the numbers game.
Despite the final result, Sich was very happy with his time in Trenton.
"I went into camp in top shape. I did everything I wanted to in the camp," he said. "I put the puck in the net a couple of times in the scrimmages, had a couple of assists and played pretty physical too."
"I just got caught up in the numbers game. I could see that coming," he explained. "I did all I could do and I left a good impression there. They'll remember that."
With his obvious talent and skills, Sich could have tried to latch on with another ECHL team or choose any of the squads in the CHL or UHL. For him, the choice was easy - come back to the Seals and play for Tommy Stewart.
"There were definitely options there but it was just going to be an on-going roller coaster with going with numbers and people you don't know," Sich said about choosing to return to Florida rather than going elsewhere. "I was really looking forward to coming back this year. That's the one reason I didn't want to go with any other teams. I knew I'd come here with Tommy because he knows the way I play, I'll get ice time. We just have a certain respect for each other and that's something a player and coach should always have."
Sich is looking forward to having a big second season with the Seals.
"It's kind of early but we had a pretty good exhibition game the other night. I'm going to say I'm going to shoot for 40-45 goals," he said, adding that he'd like to get in the range of 80-plus points this year. "Ask me that question in the middle of the season and I'll give you a better estimate. If I get off to a good start, we'll start turning some heads."
And as for that message to the league's net minders?
"They know I'm back so they're going to be on their toes. It's going to be good," Sich said with a bit of a laugh in his voice. "Every chance I get, I'm going to bury it. The Seals are coming - we're back."
SPHL Stories from October 24, 2006
- Barracudas Trim Down Training Camp Roster - Jacksonville Barracudas
- Sich Returns For Encore Performance - Florida Seals
- Cyclones Announce Captains for Upcoming Season - Twin City Cyclones
- Cyclones Release Six from Camp - Twin City Cyclones
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