Sam Gospel returns to the fray for Leeds Knights
Sam Gospel will return to the Leeds Knights starting line-up this weekend – having taken a well-deserved week off.
The Knights’ No 1 - widely regarded as the NIHL National league’s No 1 netminder since coming out of lockdown - had been an ever-present before being rested for the games against Romford Raiders and Telford Tigers.
Dan Norton was given the nod to start both games and, after a tough night in an 8-3 home defeat to Romford, bounced back with a 4-2 win at Telford - getting the better of older brother Ben in the Tigers’ goal in the process.
Knights’ head coach Ryan Aldridge will be keen to get Gospel back between the pipes to ensure he is sharp for the first weekend of play-offs, but he was clearly impressed by Norton’s two performances.
“I thought Dan did really well,” said Aldridge. “I think he'd probably want a couple back from Saturday. When we were watching the video on Sunday before we left for Telford he was saying he should have had that one back, but we just told him he doesn't need to make any excuses.
“I just don't think we were good enough in front of him - that's the reality.
“But the boys went in front of him the next night with a different mentality, but he also had to make some big saves, too and I thought he did great.”
Bristol host Leeds knowing they need three points from the weekend to ensure they don’t finish bottom for the third season running.