How Gantoise Men Scripted Euro Hockey League Glory
The 17th edition of the men’s Euro Hockey League organised by the European Hockey Federation (EHF) witnessed a new winner in Belgium club Gantoise, who sprang more than a surprise making short work of formidable Dutch club Bloemendaal (a club that have won the men’s EHL on most occasions – 6 times) 5-2 in a rather lop-sided final clash at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.
The Pascal Kina-coached Gantoise outfit have found the quarterfinal hurdle tough to navigate in the last two editions – they had lost to eventual runners-up Kampong 1-2 in the 2023-24 edition and to Spanish club Atlètic Terrassa 2-3 (2-2) in a shootout.
Gantoise under the captaincy of Belgium midfielder Antoine Kina – son of team coach Pascal Kina, who also have a fair degree of international experience, having coached the Belgium women’s team at the 2012 London Olympics, have been well served by French striker Etienne Tynevez, Argentine midfielder Maico Casella, Irish and French midfielder Sean Murray and Charles Mason alongside ace Belgium drag-flicker Alexander Hendrickx in the 2024-25 Euro Hockey League.
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Alexander Hendrickx was in prime form at the business end of the 2024-25 Euro Hockey League scoring in every match, pulling off a brace in their 4-0 win over Leopold in the quarterfinal with meaningful scoring contributions from Maico Casella, and Charles Mason. It was Hendrickx, who proved the saviour for Gantoise in a come-from-behind in the semifinal against Rotterdam which they won 4-3 in a shootout after being locked 2-2 in regulation time.
The burly Belgium deep defender, who played for Kalinga Lancers in the HIL, gave Gantoise the lead in the final against Gantoise before going to cap off a splendid hat-trick – becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in a men’s Euro Hockey League final – Hendrickx also in the process won back-to-back EHL crowns, scoring the match-winner for Dutch club Pinoke when they won the 2023-24 edition before he switched to Gantoise.
Gantoise’s remarkable glory-scripting chapter on their maiden EHL final appearance makes it the only second time that a Belgium club have won the EHL – Waterloo Ducks had last won the 2018-19 edition of the EHL.
Image Credit: Euro Hockey League Website
