Leeds Chiefs netminder Sam Gospel picks up third award after stellar season

The 26 -year-old beat off fellow goalie nominees Renny Marr, of Swindon Wildcats and Basingstoke Bison’s Alex Mettam, but missed out on the overall player of the season award for the division which went to Hull Pirates’ player-coach Jason Hewitt.

Gospel has already won two player of the season awards, first from the Leeds Chiefs’ Supporters Club as well as in an online poll conducted on the YEP website.

Facing a total of 1,777 shots - the highest in the division - Gospel produced a save percentage of 88.91, sixth highest among the division’s first-choice goalies in a team that finished bottom of the standings when the season was brought to an earlier-than-scheduled conclusion due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Sam Gospel had arguably the toughest job in the National Division, facing just under 1800 shots and still turning in a creditable 88.91 per cent save rate in the Chiefs’ first season under difficult circumstances,” stated the judging panel.

Former GB international forward Hewitt, who previously played for Sheffield Steelers in the Elite League before switching to East Yorkshire in 2016, beat off competiton from eight other shortlisted candidates, including Gospel, after he posted a remarkable points tally of 44 goals and 57 assists in just 43 games.

“The award is for a player who not only coached the side, but carried them through injury crisis and suspension crisis game after game,” explained the panel.

Peterborough Phantoms’ Tom Norton was named as the division’s top defenceman, racking up 19 goals in an overall points haul of 53, his team finishing third overall in the table.