Goebel to transfer from MSU

Tommy Goebel ranked fifth on the Spartans
scoring list last season with 6 goals and 15 assists

Tommy Goebel has decided to leave Michigan State and transfer to another school for his remaining two years of collegiate eligibility.

The forward from Parma, Ohio, had a solid freshman year in 2003-2004 with 15 goals and 32 points, but struggled this past season and only put up six goals and 21 points.

Goebel said he met with Spartans head coach Rick Comley a month ago to tell him the news.

"I think he's a good player and works hard and definitely would have been among our top nine forwards,'' Comley told the Lansing State Journal. "When you invest two years in a player and start to see the best coming out of them, it's frustrating to see them leave.''

The 20-year-old Goebel said he has talked with Ohio State, Denver and New Hampshire about the possibilities of transferring, but is a few weeks away from making a decision. If he ends up at OSU, he won't be eligible for a scholarship because Big Ten rules prohibit transfers within the conference from receiving financial aid. The CCHA follows Big Ten academic rules.

Goebel didn't go into details about why he was leaving.

"I'd rather not go into it, other than to say things just didn't work out and it's time to move on,'' he said in the same Lansing State Journal article. "Michigan State is a great program. I loved the atmosphere and the fans were great. A lot of the players have become my best friends.''

Comley said he was stunned when Goebel told him he wanted to leave.

"I talked to him six weeks ago and he was gung-ho about next season. This was a complete turnaround,'' Comley said. "He had a frustrating season last year, but I thought he played himself through it. But he doesn't want to play for me for reasons of his own. And I can't say what they are.

"He has his release to pursue other schools. The bottom line is you have to be happy where you are.''