This Friday, the Euro Hockey League blasts back into action with KO16 Bloemendaal, the event which sees 16 of Europe's finest club teams reduced to the four tournament Semi Finalists over four intense days.
In the second of four preview feature articles, we look at the afternoon matches on Day 1 - Friday 22nd April 2011. Former Euro Hockey League finalists HGC will be looking to blast their way into the Quarter Finals by defeating Ireland's in-form Glenanne, while Matthias Witthaus's Mannheimer - the current league leaders in Germany - face a tough battle against Atlétic Terrassa, the Spanish champions.
More information about the tournament, including news, current broadcasting schedule and details about ticket sales can be found at www.ehlhockey.tv.
KO16 MATCH 3: HGC (NED) V GLENANNE (IRL)
MATCH TIME: Friday 22nd April - 14:30hrs (Central European Standard Time). Broadcast information about this match can be found at www.ehlhockey.tv.
WINNER PLAYS: Either Beeston HC (ENG) or HC Dinamo Kazan (RUS) in the Euro Hockey League Quarter Finals.
TEAM INFO - HGC
Former Euro Hockey League finalists HGC made light work of their passage into the knockout stages of the competition, defeating Ireland's Pembroke Wanderers 4-2 before crushing Olimpia Kolos Sekvoia of Ukraine 9-2 to guarantee top spot in Pool F. The team has various top class players such as Canadian international Rob Short, Spain's Rodrigo Garza and new signing Lucas Vila of Argentina, who has helped to ease the loss of GB internationals Barry Middleton (Der Club an der Alster) and Ashley Jackson (East Grinstead). The big shoes of recently retired shot-stopper Guus Vogels were filled by talented youngster Sam van der Ven, who conceded just four goals in the two opening matches. HGC recently changed their head coach, with Spaniard and former RC Polo coach Jorge Dabanch being replaced by former international Dirk Loots. Their form has not been great in recent weeks, but a successful weekend in Bloemendaal could spark their season into life.
ROUND 1 RESULTS - POOL F
HGC (NED) v Pembroke Wanderers (IRL) 4:2 (2:0)
HGC (NED) v Kolos Sekvoia (UKR) 9:2 (6:0)
POOL F RANKING: 1
RECENT FORM - DUTCH HOOFDKLASSE
27 March 2011: Laren 3-2 HGC
30 March 2011: HGC 0-2 HC Bloemendaal
03 April 2011: Pinoke 0-3 HGC
10 April 2011: HGC 1-4 Amsterdam
17 April 2011: HGC 1-2 SCHC
CURRENT LEAGUE POSITION: 9TH.
TOP SCORER: Timmo Kranstauber (14).
EHL TOURNAMENT RECORD:
2007-08: Final. Defeated in the final by UHC Hamburg 1-0 (golden goal in extra time).
2008-09: Did not qualify for EHL.
2009-10: Did not qualify for EHL.
TEAM INFO - GLENANNE HC
Although Glenanne finished second in Pool G behind Mannheimer HC, their performances in Round 1 impressed many as they booked a first ever appearance at KO16. A battling display against Mannheimer HC saw them fall to the narrowest of defeats against a team considered by some as a potential winner of this year's competition, while their draw with Polish champions and EHL regulars WKS Grunwald Poznan was enough to set up a Round 2 meeting with Dutch giants HGC. Glenanne are in great form coming into this event, with player-coach and former Ireland international Graham Shaw being a talismanic figure for the Dubliners. Shane O'Donoghue is also an extremely dangerous goal scorer, having netted 22 times this season. The team were recently crowned as the Leinster champions, prizing the title away from fellow Irish EHL representatives Pembroke Wanderers. They are also sitting pretty at the top of Pool A in the Irish Hockey League.
ROUND 1 RESULTS - POOL G
Glenanne HC (IRL) v Mannheimer HC (GER) 1:2 (1:1)
Glenanne HC (IRL) v Grunwald Poznan (POL) 2:2 (1:0)
POOL G RANKING: 2
RECENT FORM - LEINSTER LEAGUE
27 March 2011: Glenanne 5-4 Railway Union
02 April 2011: YMCA 4-3 Glenanne
06 April 2011: Corinthian 3-3 Glenanne
09 April 2011: Monkstown 2-3 Glenanne
10 April 2011: Weston 0-7 Glenanne
CURRENT LEAGUE POSITON: 1st - Leinster League Champions.
TOP SCORER: Shane O'Donoghue (22)
EHL TOURNAMENT RECORD
2007-08: Did not qualify for EHL
2008-09: Did not qualify for EHL
2009-10: Round 1. Finished bottom of Pool H behind UHC Hamburg (GER) and WKS Grunwald Poznan (POL)
KO16 MATCH 4: MANNHEIMER (GER) V ATLÉTIC TERRASSA (ESP)
MATCH TIME: Friday 22nd April - 17:00hrs (Central European Standard Time). Broadcast information about this match can be found at www.ehlhockey.tv.
WINNER PLAYS: Either Club de Campo (ESP) or Pembroke Wanderers (IRL) in the Euro Hockey League Quarter Finals.
TEAM INFO - MANNHEIMER
Mannheimer sneaked into this season's EHL thanks to a third place finish in Germany's Bundesliga. However, their Round 1 performances suggest that they are more than capable of challenging for the Alain Danet Trophy. Last season's impressive team - lead by Torsten Althoff (head coach) and former Australia striker Michael McCann (co-trainer) - significantly improved their squad by signing dazzling Germany forward Matthias Witthaus, who is without question one of the world's finest attackers. Czech international penalty corner ace Tomas Prochazka is the team's top goal-scorer and will be looking to add to his tally this weekend in Bloemendaal. Mannheimer are the current leaders of the Bundesliga and on occasion are showing frightening form. You can be sure that they will be full of confidence going into their Round 2 clash with the Spanish champions.
ROUND 1 RESULTS - POOL G
Mannheimer HC (GER) v Glenanne HC (IRL) 2:1 (1:1)
Mannheimer HC (GER) v Grunwald Poznan (NED) 5:1 (3:0)
POOL G RANKING: 1
RECENT FORM - GERMANY'S BUNDESLIGA
Nov 2010-March 2011: Winter Break.
02 April 2011: Mannheimer 12 - 6 Blau-Weiss Berlin
09 April 2011: Harvestehuder THC 2-1 Mannheimer
16 April 2011: Mannheimer 3-2 Club an der Alster
CURRENT LEAGUE POSITION: 1st.
TOP SCORER: Tomas Prochazka (11).
EHL TOURNAMENT RECORD:
This is Mannheimer's first ever season in the Euro Hockey League.
TEAM INFO - ATLÉTIC TERRASSA HC
Despite the home advantage, Atlétic Terrassa were not at their best during Round 1.2, narrowly defeating France's CA Montrouge before being beaten by Beeston HC of England. However, the Spanish champions are currently flying high in the Spanish Hockey Liga, and are expected to be firing on all cylinders here at Bloemendaal this weekend. Spanish international Sergi Enrique is a hugely important defensive player for the team, while Roc Oliva and Inyaki Freixa are industrious and unpredictable strikers capable of creating goals out of nothing. They are on a fine run of form currently, topping the Spanish league on goal difference ahead of Madrid's Club de Campo. Atl├®tic's most recent league match came against Club de Campo, with the score in Madrid finishing 2-2. However, the Madrid outfit claimed victory over them two weeks ago in the final of the Copa Del Rey, which gave Campo a place in next season's Euro Hockey League. Regardless, very much like their German opponents, Atl├®tic Terrassa are in great shape ahead of this match and will be determined to fight their way past Mannheimer and into the Quarter Finals. Interestingly, Atl├®tic will come face-to-face with former star Matthias Witthaus in this match, adding even more spice to an already fascinating fixture.
ROUND 1 RESULTS - POOL C
Atlétic Terrassa (ESP) v CA Montrouge (FRA) 3:2 (2:0)
Atlétic Terrassa (ESP) v Beeston (ENG) 1:2 (1:2)
POOL C RANKING: 2
RECENT FORM - SPANISH LIGA
13 March 2011: C.D. Complutense 0-1 Atl├®tic Terrassa
20 March 2011: Atlétic Terrassa 2-1 Club de Campo
27 March 2011: RC Polo 1-1 Atl├®tic Terrassa
10 April 2011: Atlétic Terrassa 4-2 C.D. Complutense
17 April 2011: Club de Campo 2-2 Atl├®tic Terrassa
CURRENT LEAGUE POSITON: 1st
TOP SCORER: Information unavailable at time of writing.
EHL TOURNAMENT RECORD
2007-08: Quarter Finals - Defeated by HGC 2-1.
2008-09: Round 1: Finished bottom of Pool H behind KHC Leuven (BEL) and Three Rock Rovers (IRL).
2009-10: Quarter Finals. Defeated by H.C. Rotterdam 5-3.
SOURCE: Euro Hockey League Media Release
