European Hockey Feast Awaits Fans in the Form of Men’s Euro Hockey League
A European hockey feast awaits us as the quarterfinal stage of the 17th edition (2024-25 edition) of the Men’s Euro Hockey League (EHL) organised by he European Hockey Federation (EHF) gets underway at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands from April 17th and will run till April 21st.
Surprisingly, the 2023-24 Men’s Euro Hockey League champions Pinoke from Belgium are not part of the quarterfinal line-up nor is Rot-Weiss Köln from Germany – side that had reached the semifinalist in the 2023-24 edition. 2024-25 Men’s Euro Hockey League runners-up Kampong from the Netherlands would take on English club Surbiton that did not make it to the last-four stage in the 2023-24 edition
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Dutch club Bloemendaal, who won the Men’s Euro Hockey League crown for three consecutive years in 2021, 2022 and 2022-23 but did not make it to the semifinals in the 2023-24 edition – would be looking to bettering their performance this time around as they lock horns with Club de Campo from Spain in the quarterfinal stage. English club Old Georgians – the bronze medallist in the 2023-24 edition would take on Rotterdam – the third Dutch club in the fray in the last-eight stage.
Two Belgium clubs – Leopold and Gantoise would square up in the fourth quarterfinal tie – both missed the semifinal bus in the 2023-24 edition.
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2024-25 Men’s Euro Hockey League runners-up Kampong wear a formidable look in defence and upfront with the likes of Dutch fullbacks Jip Janssen and Lars Balk, both of whom turned for Tamil Nadu Dragons and UP Rudras in the 6th Hockey India League (HIL) – they boast of two talented Dutch forwards – Duco Telgenkamp Terrance Pieters – the duo withdrew from the 6th HIL after being bought by Tamil Nadu Dragons and Hyderabad Toofans.
English club Surbiton also have a fair amount of firepower in the form of goalkeeper James Mazarello who played for UP Rudras in the HIL – defenders Nick Park & Conor Williamson, the midfield trio of vastly experienced David Goodfield, Tim Nurse, Stuart Rushmere and Scottish striker Struan Walker upfront, who played for Team Gonasika in the HIL.
Bloemendaal have an aura of formidability around them as they boast of Dutch goalkeeper Maurits Visser, defender due of Floris Wortelboer (played for UP Rudras in the HIL) and Jasper Brinkman, the English-Spanish midfield combo of Zach Wallace (played for Hyderabad Toofans in the HIL) and Marc Miralles and a forwardline comprising Australian Nathan Ephraums (played for Tamil Nadu Dragons in the HIL) and Dennis Warmerdam.
2023-24 Euro Hockey League bronze medallist Old Georgians from England, are a robust unit having the likes of retired Great Britain & England goalkeeper George Pinner, the English-Ireland fullback duo of Liam Sanford & Kyle Marshall as well as James Albery (played for UP Rudras in the HIL) alongside midfielder Phil Ropar (played for Soorma Hockey Club in the HIL) and Sam Ward (played for UP Rudras in the HIL).
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Belgium club Leopold would be counting a lot upfront from their in-form striker Tom Boon (he has been in great form in the 2024-25 Pro League, scoring three hat-tricks) as well as their young Belgium forward Onana Nelson – in defence they would look to blunt the opposition with the expertise of Nicolas Poncelet (played for Soorma Hockey Club in the HIL) and Gauthier Boccard (played for Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers in the HIL). As for overseas players they have two French players – midfielder Gaspard Baumgarten and striker Jean-Baptiste Forgues.
Dutch club Rotterdam have rock-solid forwards in Thijs Van Dam & Guus Jansen as Argentine-born-now-playing-for-Spain Joaquin, Menini and Spanish fullback Marc Recasens. Veteran forward Jeroen Hertzberger has retired from the club after playing for an incredible 22 seasons.
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To sum it up, the 2024-25 Men’s Euro Hockey League features three Dutch clubs, two Belgium clubs, two English clubs and one Spanish club – no German club made it to the quarterfinal stage this time around.
Image Credit: Twitter
