Following the completion of the Round 2 Draw today - details of which are below - the Euro Hockey League (EHL) and the European Hockey Federation (EHF) are pleased to announce that iconic Dutch club HC Bloemendaal will be the hosts of Easter's KO16 event.
ÔÇ£I am delighted that the EHL will be taking place at HC Bloemendaal for the first timeÔÇØ, commented Euro Hockey League Chairman of the Board Jons Hensel. ÔÇ£They are a club with great tradition and a fine reputation for winning trophies both in The Netherlands and in Europe. Both myself and HC Bloemendaal chairman Guus de Gruiter are confident that it will be an event to remember at one of the most famous hockey clubs in the world.ÔÇØ
HC Bloemendaal is one of the oldest hockey clubs in the Netherlands, with its foundations being laid in 1895. The club has over 1400 members, and the success of their men's team has earned them earned them a high profile throughout the hockey world. Since 1985, Bloemendaal have won no less than 14 Dutch national titles as well as three elite European titles, the last of which arrived in 2009 when Teun de Nooijer and Jamie Dwyer inspired a 5-4 victory over UHC Hamburg in the tournament final. The team are always passionately supported by the Bloemingens, their loyal band of fans who always create a great atmosphere, something which will certainly be witnessed at KO16.
The KO16 Draw - which took place at the Offices of the European Hockey Federation at 12.00hrs CET (GMT +1) - revealed that tournament hosts HC Bloemendaal will play a mouth-watering Round 2 match against reigning EHL champions UHC Hamburg (GER), with the winner playing either Oranje Zwart (NED) or Real Club de Polo de Barcelona (ESP), who were drawn against each other.
Belgium's KHC Dragons, who conquered reigning EHL champions UHC Hamburg in the first Round, will do battle with German champions Rot-Weiss Koln (GER), the runner up from Pool B. The victorious team must then face the winner of the all English clash between East Grinstead and Reading HC if they are to reach the Semi Final stages of the tournament.
On the other side of the draw, Beeston (ENG) have been drawn against HC Dinamo Kazan (RUS), with the winner facing either HGC (NED) or Glenanne (IRL) in the Quarter Finals. Pool G winners Mannheimer (GER) have been paired with Atletic Terrassa (ESP), who were runners up in Pool C. The winner of that match will face a tough Quarter Final match against either Club de Campo (ESP) or Pembroke Wanderers (IRL).
The draw itself took place at the Offices of the European Hockey Federation in Brussels, Belgium. EHL Directors Marijke Fleuren and Jorge Alcover were joined by EHF President Martin Gotheridge in making the draw, which was overseen by EHF Competitions Manager Steve Catton.
KO16 Bloemendaal will take place over Easter between Friday 22nd and Monday 25th April 2011, giving you the chance to see some of the finest club teams and players in the world. The first phase of KO16 sees the 16 remaining EHL teams face each other in Round 2, to be played on 22nd and 23rd April. The Round 3 matches, also known as the Quarter Finals, take place on the 24th and 25th April.
Details regarding the match schedule and ticket sales will be announced as soon as they are confirmed. More information about the draw can be found at www.ehlhockey.tv .
