Buffalo Bandits goaltender Steve Dietrich was named yesterday as the National Lacrosse League's Goaltender of the Year, the second straight season he has won the award.

That accomplishment puts "Chugger" in an exclusive club, joining Gary Gait (Most Valuable Player, 1995-1999, and Sportsmanship Award, 2004-2005) and John Tavares (MVP, 2000-2001) as the only players to win a major individual award in consecutive seasons.

2005   Steve Dietrich
       Buffalo Bandits
2004   Gord Nash
       Colorado Mammoth
2003   Pat O'Toole
       Rochester K'Hawks
2002   Rob Blasdell
       Albany Attack
2001   Bob Watson
       Toronto Rock

It also means that Dietrich is assured of a spot on the league's All-Pro First Team, joined by Portland's Brodie Merrill (as the Defensive Player of the Year) and the top four vote-getters (excluding Dietrich and Merrill) for Most Valuable Player.

Dietrich led the league in goals-against average (9.97), save percentage (80.8), and wins (ten), backstopping the Bandits to an 11-5 overall record and first place in the Eastern Division.

With two playoff wins (not part of the consideration for the end-of-season awards), Dietrich has helped add "Eastern Division Championship" to Buffalo's list of achievements.

The Bandits will host Colorado in the NLL Championship Game next Saturday evening.

The league will continue announcing award winners every weekday through next Thursday, with the Les Bartley Award (Coach of the Year) due today.