Arguably the world's most important and influential club hockey tournament returns to action next weekend at HC Bloemendaal (The Netherlands), with the home club of Teun de Nooijer playing host to the KO16 and KO8 (Quarter Finals) rounds of the Euro Hockey League. Sixteen of Europe's finest club teams will go head-to-head over four intense days of knock-out competition, with some of the greatest players in the modern game in action.
In the first of four preview feature articles, we look at the first two matches of the weekend. Recently crowned English champions Beeston HC take on HC Dinamo Kazan, the reigning champions of Russia before Edi Tubau's Club de Campo of Madrid aim to battle past Irish champions Pembroke Wanderers on Friday 22nd April 2011.
More information about the tournament, including news, current broadcasting schedule and details about ticket sales can be found at www.ehlhockey.tv.
KO16 MATCH 1: BEESTON HC V HC DINAMO KAZAN
MATCH TIME: Friday 22nd April - 09:30hrs (Central European Standard Time). Broadcast information about this match can be found at www.ehlhockey.tv.
WINNER PLAYS: Either HGC (NED) or Glenanne (IRL) in the Euro Hockey League Quarter Finals.
TEAM INFO - BEESTON
Beeston HC made their Euro Hockey League debut during the 2009-10 Season, marking the occasion by winning their Pool ahead of St Germain (FRA) and KHC Leuven (BEL). However, Leuven came back to haunt them in the second round, knocking the Bees out of the competition. This year the Nottingham-based club have started the competition even more impressively with wins against two national champions - France's CA Montrouge and Spanish giants Atl├®tic Terrassa, the hosts of Round 1.2. Star players in the Beeston line-up include England and Great Britain defenders Ali Wilson and Adam Dixon as well as former international striker Martin Jones, who is the team's player coach.
ROUND 1 RESULTS POOL C
Beeston HC (ENG) v CA Montrouge (FRA) 3:2 (2:0)
Beeston HC (ENG) v Atl├®tic Terrassa (ESP) 2:1 (2:1)
POOL C RANKING: 1
RECENT FORM
Beeston's recent form has been exceptional, with the team battling their way through to the final of the England Hockey Championships thanks to a 2-1 victory over Surbiton. In the final, the Bees claimed their first ever Premier National League title with a superb 2-1 win against reigning champions East Grinstead, thanks to strikes from Stephen Lawrence and Ben Arnold, with a goalkeeping ace George Pinner contributing with a crucial penalty stroke save. Beeston have also reached the final of the England Hockey Cup, where they will face Doncaster on 14 May.
EHL TOURMAMENT RECORD:
2007-08: Did not participate
2008-09: Did not participate
2009-10: Round 2 (KO16). Eliminated by KHC Leuven (BEL) 3-1.
TEAM INFO - HC DINAMO KAZAN
Russia's Dinamo Kazan have qualified for every Edition of the Euro Hockey League since its inception in 2007, but before this season have only managed to make it beyond the group phase just once when they reached KO16 Egara in 2007-08. They booked a second appearance at the Easter tournament by sneaking into second place behind Pool H winners Oranje Zwart thanks to a superior goal difference over Pomorzananin Torun of Poland. Pakistan international Imran Warsi is a wonderful exponent of the penalty corner drag flick, ensuring that Dinamo have a weapon who is more than capable of winning matches for them.
ROUND 1 RESULTS POOL H
Dinamo Kazan (RUS) v Pomorzanin Torun (POL) 4:4 (1:2)
Dinamo Kazan (RUS) v Oranje Zwart (NED) 2:7 (0:5)
POOL H RANKING: 2
RECENT FORM
Information not available (out of season).
EHL TOURMAMENT RECORD
2007-08: Round 2 (KO16). Eliminated by HGC (NED) 6-1.
2008-09: Round 1. Finished Bottom of Pool D behind HC Bloemendaal (NED) and Cannock (ENG).
2009-10: Round 1. Finished Bottom of Pool E behind RC de Polo de Barcelona (ESP) and Waterloo Ducks (BEL).
KO16 MATCH 2: CLUB DE CAMPO (ESP) V PEMBROKE WANDERERS (IRL)
MATCH TIME: Friday 22nd April - 12:00hrs (Central European Standard Time). Broadcast information about this match can be found at www.ehlhockey.tv.
WINNER PLAYS: Either Mannheimer HC (GER) or Atl├®tic Terrassa (ESP) in the Euro Hockey League Quarter Finals.
TEAM INFO - CLUB DE CAMPO
Madrid's Club de Campo may be first time qualifiers for the Euro Hockey League, but their team contains some names that will be very familiar to fans of the competition. Former Club Egara superstars Edi Tubau and Guillermo ÔÇ£WillyÔÇØ Schickendantz - top goal scorer in the 2008-2009 Edition of the EHL - were both outstanding performers in Round 1.1 Eindhoven as their side powered to the top of Pool B with good results against RC Bruxelles (BEL) and Rot-Weiss K├Âln (GER). It will be an interesting weekend for Irish international defender Ronan Gormley, who faces his former club Pembroke Wanderers in their Round 2 match next Friday.
ROUND 1 RESULTS POOL B
Club de Campo (ESP) v RC Bruxelles (BEL) 6:3 (3:1)
Club de Campo (ESP) v Rot-Weiss K├Âln (GER) 2:2 (1:1)
POOL B RANKING: 1
RECENT FORM
Club de Campo are in superb form coming into KO16, sitting level on points with Atl├®tic Terrassa at the top of the Spanish Liga. Their last defeat came on the 20th March at the hands of Atl├®tic (3-1), but the team recently gained revenge by defeating their title rivals in final of the Copa del Rey (3-1). It was Club de Campo's first domestic trophy for six years, and qualified them for next year's Euro Hockey League. The side achieved a 3-1 win against Pol Amat's Club Egara last weekend, and will be aiming for another victory over Atl├®tic Terrassa when they face them in Madrid this Sunday - their last match before KO16.
EHL TOURNAMENT RECORD
The 2010-11 Edition of the Euro Hockey League is Club de Campo's first appearance in the competition.
TEAM INFO - PEMBROKE WANDERERS
Pembroke are participating in their third Euro Hockey League competition in four years, and have reached KO16 for the second successive season. The squad has changed greatly since last year thanks to the loss of no less than five players to teams on the continent. Striker Alan Sothern (Den Bosch - NED), Andy McConnell (Hurley - NED), Conor & David Harte (both SCHC) have all departed, along with Ronan Gormley who will face his former team this weekend in the colours of Club de Campo (ESP). However, Pembroke's highly respected South African coach Brendon Carolan has brought in some talented players, with Brandon Panther proving to be a goal-scoring threat during Round 1.1.
ROUND 1 RESULTS POOL F
Pembroke Wanderers (IRL) v Kolos Sekvoia (UKR) 4:3 (2:1)
Pembroke Wanderers (IRL) v HGC (NED ) 2:4 (0:2)
POOL F RANKING: 2
RECENT FORM
Pembroke's recent form in the Leinster League has been mixed. In March lost to Monkstown (2-0) and Railway Union (3-1) as well as recording draws against Corinthian (0-0) and Three Rock Rovers (1-1), while April saw the Wanderers hand out a 9-0 thrashing to Fingal before securing a second draw against Three Rock Rovers (1-1). Their most recent result was a 4-3 victory over Railway Union. In the Irish Hockey League, Pembroke currently sit top of Pool B having won four of the five matches that they have played so far this season.
EHL TOURNAMENT RECORD
2007-08: Round 1. Finished bottom of Pool F behind Club Egara (ESP) and Pocztowiec Poznan (POL).
2008-09: Did not participate.
2009-10: Round 2 - KO16. Eliminated by Rot-Weiss K├Âln (GER) 3-0.
SOURCE: Euro Hockey League Media Release
