A fantastic double event is taking place at Amsterdam's world famous Wagener Stadium this weekend, with the Final Fours of the men's Euro Hockey League and Eurohockey Club Champions Cup for women expected to draw large crowds to Amstelveen.
The EHL Final Four tournament is always one of the highlights of the hockey calendar, as Europe's finest club teams and many of the world's best players do battle in the hope of lifting the Alain Danet trophy. This weekend will be no different, as UHC Hamburg (GER), Real Club de Polo de Barcelona (ESP), H.C. Rotterdam (NED) and host club Amsterdam H&BC fight for the crown. With world class individuals such as Moritz F├╝rste, Taeke Taekema, Ryan Archibald and Matthias Witthaus on show, it promises to be a hugely exciting event. See below for more detailed previews of teams competing in the EHL Semi Finals.
This year's EHL Finals event also incorporates the latter stages of the new EuroHockey Club Champions Cup for Women, with Atasport (AZE), UHC Hamburg (GER), Amsterdam H&BC (NED) and Den Bosch (NED) all competing for the title. This combined event gives hockey fans in the Wagener the chance to see the best European club hockey has to offer. The women's Semi Finals take place on Friday afternoon, with the tournament final scheduled for Sunday.
The men's Euro Hockey League matches will be seen around the world by millions of television viewers, with EuroSport 2, Eurosport Asia Pacific, NET 5 (Netherlands), Taj TV (India) and others either showing live or delayed broadcast. The men's tournament is also being live streamed free of charge on the Euro Hockey League website, ensuring that as many people as possible can watch the action.
For full broadcast information and the latest news from the exciting conclusion to the European season, please visit www.ehlhockey.tv .
Euro Hockey League Semi Finals
Semi Final 1: UHC Hamburg v RC de Polo de Barcelona
Saturday 22nd May 2010 - 12:00 (CEST)
UHC Hamburg: UHC Hamburg is one of the most consistently brilliant teams in the Euro Hockey League. Winners in 2008 and Finalists in 2009, they are a squad with many strengths, few weaknesses and a number of world class individuals such as Olympic Gold medallists Moritz F├╝rste, Carlos Nevado and Philip Witte. A third successive appearance at EHL Final Four was achieved by two outstanding performances at KO16 Rotterdam, crushing the challenge of Belgium's Waterloo Ducks before conquering reigning champions HC Bloemendaal in a dramatic penalty shoot-out. A second EHL title is certainly not beyond this young and exceptionally talented team.
Previous Results: versus Glenanne HC (IRL) won 4-1 (2-1); versus WKS Grunwald Poznan (POL) won 3-2 (3-0); versus Waterloo Ducks (BEL) won 6-2 (3-0); versus HC Bloemendaal (NED) won 3-3 (2-1)(5-3 APS)
RC Polo: Real Club de Polo de Barcelona is aiming to become the first Spanish team to have their name engraved on the Alain Danet Trophy. The European champions of 2004 were simply magnificent at KO16 Rotterdam, fighting their way past England's Reading HC before a late strike from Pau Quemada secured a famous 3-2 victory over German champions and pre-tournament favourites Rot-Weiss K├Âln. Both Quemada and fellow Spanish international Alex Fabregas are stand-out players, while the dazzling skills and speed of Germany's Olympic Gold medal winning striker Matthias Witthaus ensure that RC Polo are capable of scoring goals at any given moment.
Previous Results: versus Dinamo Kazan (RUS) won7-2 (3-0); versus Waterloo Ducks (BEL) won 2-1 (2-0) versus Reading HC (ENG) won 2-1 (1-0); versus Rot-Weiss K├Âln (GER) won 3-2 (1-1)
Semi Final 2: Amsterdam H&BC v H.C. Rotterdam
Saturday 22nd May 2010 - 14.30 (CEST)
Amsterdam H&BC: The 2005 European Champions overcame an injury crisis to qualify from Round 1 before defeating East Grinstead and KHC Leuven to reach EHL Final Four. The tournament hosts feature seven current Dutch internationals including drag-flicking defender Taeke Taekema as well as skilful midfielders Rob Reckers and Valentin Verga. Another player to watch is former Rotterdam midfielder Robert Tigges, who has greatly impressed in European competition this season. A headline-grabbing return to action for Santi Freixa may also be on the cards this weekend, but at the time of writing it was unclear if the Spanish international had won his fitness battle following eight months on the sidelines.
Previous Results: versus KS AWF Poznan (POL) won 6-0 (3-0); versus East Grinstead HC (ENG - Round 1) won 2-1 (1-1); versus East Grinstead (ENG - Round 2) won 3-2 (0-1); versus KHC Leuven (BEL) won 3-2 (2-1).
H.C. Rotterdam: H.C. Rotterdam's impressive squad contains some of the biggest names in world hockey such as Dutch internationals Jeroen Hertzberger and Robert van der Horst as well as exceptional New Zealanders Ryan Archibald, Phil Burrows and Simon Child. The team reached EHL Final Four with excellent wins against Club Egara (KO16) and Atl├®tic Terrassa (Quarter Finals). H.C. Rotterdam have made the Semi Final stages every year since the inception of the Euro Hockey League in 2007, and their excellent form at Easter's KO16 tournament suggests that this could be the year they finally claim their first elite European trophy.
Previous Results: versus Kelburne HC (SCO) won 6-0 (1-0); versus Pembroke Wanderers (IRL) won 6-1 (3-1); versus Club Egara (ESP) won 2-1 (2-1); versus defeated Atl├®tic Terrassa (ESP) won 5-3 (3-0)
Schedule
EHL Final Four (Men) and
EuroHockey Club Champions Cup Final Four (Women)
Amsterdam H&BC, Amstelveen (NED)
21-23 May 2010
Match Schedule
Friday 21 May 2010
16.30 EuroHockey CCC Semi Final 1 (Women)
Atasport (AZE) v UHC Hamburg (GER)
19.00 EuroHockey CCC Semi Final 2 (Women)
Amsterdam H&BC (NED) v HC ÔÇÿs Hertogenbosch (NED)
Saturday 22 May 2010
12.00 EHL Semi Final 1
UHC Hamburg (GER) v RC Polo de Barcelona (ESP)
14.30 EHL Semi Final 2
Amsterdam H&BC (NED) v HC Rotterdam (NED
17.00 EuroHockey CCC 3/4 Place Match (Women)
Sunday 23 May 2010
10.30 EuroHockey CCC Final (Women)
12.45 EHL 3/4 Place Match
15.00 EHL Final
Note: All times are local (CEST). This match schedule may be subject to amendment or variation by the Tournament Director due to the requirements of television.
