Netminder Sam Gospel stands tall again to keep Leeds Knights on NIHL National title track
LAST weekend, Sam Gospel picked up Leeds Knights’ MVP award in the wins against both Swindon Wildcats and Milton Keynes Lightning.
On Saturday night, against Romford Raiders, the 31-year-old netminder was man of the match again – only this time, he got the shutout he deserved.
Perhaps surprisingly, given the form he has been in recently, it was his first 60-minute blank of the season (he didn’t concede in the 8-2 win over Bristol Pitbulls before he was replaced by back-up Ollie Booth).
If Leeds are to retain their league title for a fourth year, they will probably need Gospel to win a few more matchnight gongs.
Against Romford, it was rarely pretty for the Knights - something the visitors should be given credit for given their ability to make life difficult for the hosts.
But Leeds have made a habit of grinding out wins this season when they have been far from their best – not surprisingly, perhaps, given their injury issues – and so it proved again on Saturday.
It took until the 35th minute before the deadlock was broken, ironically in a second period which saw Romford gain the upper-hand, at least in terms of goal-scoring opportunities.
It was Oli Endicott – on course for his best season yet in a Knights shirt – who got his team ahead, given space and time to swivel eight yards out in front of goal and fire through Cole Ceci’s legs.
But there was no opportunity for the Knights to relax until the closing minutes. They gained a bit of good fortune on the power play when Sam Dunn’s shot seemed to cannon off several people, the goal credited to Fin Bradon at 54.22 – his 10th of the season.
Just under four minutes later – again on the power play – another helping of pinball saw the puck fall to Endicott in front, from where he made no mistake.
“It was two very good goalies going head-to-head, Gossy was brilliant, Ceci was brilliant,” said Knights’ head coach Ryan Aldridge.
“I think Sam thrives in that kind of environment, he wants to be better than the guy at the other end. We’re lucky to have him here and I love having him here.
“I don’t think we had our best performance tonight, but it was better than last Sunday. But still, we’re collecting points - I can't keep moaning at them.”
The Knights now make their first visit of the season to Basingstoke Bison on Sunday, hoping to avenge the 3-2 overtime defeat in Leeds on November 9.
Aldridge’s team need a win to assure themselves of a place in the semi-finals of the NIHL National Cup – a trophy they are desperate tom defend after ending their long wait for it last season.