By Kris Smith
On Saturday morning, it was announced that the recently returned Ricci would be the club’s new captain for this season, with assistant captains; Kris Inglis, Philippe Sanche, Colin Joe and Hugo Reinhardt supporting him.
This will be Fab’s first time as a team captain, with his only other previous role being an assistant captain back in his final junior season, with Baie-Comeau Drakkar in 2015-2016.
However, Ricci and the Stars could not have made a better start to his first captaincy, as Dundee kept a clean sheet against their biggest rivals, Fife Flyers on Saturday night.
A 3-0 win in Kirkcaldy gave the Stars fans the first set of bragging rights from the Tayside Derby and they then backed that performance up, with a 4-3 win against Glasgow Clan at home, on Sunday.
Reflecting on his first weekend as the club’s captain, Ricci said: “It was obviously a great weekend for the guys and a great weekend for the team, especially now that the games mean something.
“After the exhibition games, we got familiar with each other and finally came together, followed the systems and the plan of action from Jeff and it paid off.
“Having the ‘C’ is an honour anywhere you play, but especially here in Dundee is special, because the city treats the players here so well and the fans are great.
“It is definitely a great challenge and also a great opportunity to create something special with this team and we are absolutely delighted with the two wins this weekend.”
The 27-year-old also expressed his gratefulness to lead the team for the fans and how he hopes to continue the club’s success.
Fab added: “We have arguably one of the best fanbases in the league and they take their hockey seriously here, the whole city does and it is such a special place to play.
“After playing my first-year hand here then coming back this season, it was definitely an honour to be given the ‘C’.
“There have been a lot of great captains before me and a lot that I have learned from throughout my hockey career and this year, I just want to keep moving forward and use all my experience to help the team in any way I can, to create success for us at the Stars.”
The Canadian winger is also looking forward to continuing to set the right example for his teammates and is excited for this new challenge.
He said: “It definitely carries a weight but it is a good weight, I have embraced challenges throughout my whole career.
“I have never been a captain before, but I have always prided myself on showing leadership on and off the ice regardless and that is something that is super important for every player, regardless of the letter on your jersey.
“You have to come in every day and take charge, take the lead and do the right things and that is what I have tried to do right the way through my career.
“I just always try do whatever I can to play the right way, lead from example and this year I will have the opportunity to do that with a letter on my jersey, but it is not going to change the way I have done anything in the past or moving forward.
“That is the success that I bring is through my hard work and playing the right way.
“It is not all about scoring the big goals, it can be blocking a shot, making a hit or getting the puck out, so it is about teaching the guys that way and showing leadership that way, which definitely goes a long way.
“The guys respect the work ethic and that is the biggest thing at the end of the day, especially in hockey now, working hard, showing consistency and leadership in every way you can.”
The Stars next face rivals, Fife Flyers on Thursday night at the DIA and you can get your tickets HERE.
