ALL-CONQUERING Basingstoke Buffalo coach Ed Campbell scooped the Coach of the Year award to complete a perfect year.

In 2003, Campbell guided his side to the English National League south title, before winning the southern play-off group.

This set up a national final with the Altrincham Aces and, in a thrilling last game, the Buffalo took the crown with the winning goal in sudden death overtime.

In doing so they made history as the first side from the South to win the overall national title.

Reacting to Friday night's award, Campbell said: "This is the icing on the cake for last year and it is a very nice surprise."

The Buffalo coach (pictured left with Lynda Pickering from BCOT) was born in Preston, but his family emigrated to Canada at the age of six and he grew up in Brandford, Ontario, which is the home town of the greatest-ever ice hockey player, Wayne Gretzky.

Having coached football and basketball very successfully, Campbell moved into ice hockey coaching when his sons Mike and Drew took up the sport. He still coaches his Drew, who is the top scorer for the Buffalo this season.

The Buffalo coach returned to the country of his birth in 1997, and, after coaching Bracknell's under-19s, he moved to Basingstoke, who he then guided to a hat-trick of league titles.

Once again, this season, the Buffalo have made the end-of- season play-offs, which gives them the chance to defend their national crown.

Their campaign starts at Invicta on Sunday, with the first home game against their Kent rivals on April 3. The Coach of the Year award is sponsored by Basingstoke College of Technology.