The awards keep rolling in for Wheeling Nailers forward Tommy Goebel. One day after being named the PaySource USA ECHL Plus Performer of the month, the rookie from Ohio State has been selected as the CCM TACKS ECHL Player of the Month.
In leading the Nailers to the best start in franchise history (5-0-0-2 - 12), Goebel tied for the league lead in points last month with 15 (7g-8a) on his way to a plus-minus rating of +10. The Parma, Ohio, native had career highs in goals (three) and points (five) in a 5-3 victory against the Trenton Devils on Oct. 26. He registered a point in each of his first six games and had an assist in his first five.
Among rookies, Goebel ranks or is tied for first in points (16), power-play assists (5), game-winning goals (2), goals (7), assists (9), and plus-minus. He was named the ECHL Player of the Week for Oct. 20-26 after scoring nine points (4g, 5a) and having a plus-minus rating of +5.
''I've said all along he's been our most consistent performer through seven games,'' Wheeling coach Greg Puhalski said. ''Tommy Goebel has been a real good player as far as meeting his expectations.
''He's playing hard hockey and that's good for him.''
He played two seasons with the Buckeyes and had 62 points (33g-29a) and 69 penalty minutes in 71 games after playing two seasons at Michigan State University where he had 53 points (21g-32a) and 54 penalty minutes in 76 games from 2003-05. Prior to college he competed for three-plus seasons in Juniors in the North American Hockey League as part of the Cleveland Barons. He accumulated 141 points (58g-83a) in 117 games.
Runners-up for the award were Alaska's Josh Soares, Bakersfield's Matt Caruana and Dan Riedel of Dayton.
The Nailers begin a three-game set with the Mississippi Sea Wolves tonight in Biloxi.