Star-studded HC Bloemendaal clinch Euro Hockey League crown

HC Bloemendaal – the oldest hockey club in the Netherlands – humbled KHC Dragons of Belgium 2-0 to clinch the Euro Hockey League KO16 crown in the summit clash played in the Dutch city of Bloemendaal.

After a not-so-productive first quarter, Bloemendaal HC, boasting of several international players like world’s best goalkeeper Jaap Stockmann, Teun De Nooijer, talented international fullback Wouter Jolie, midfielder Tim Jenniskens besides the Australian trio of defenders – Chris Ciriello, Mathew Swann and Fergus Kavanagh in their ranks, took the lead through Rogier Hofman, who made the most of a Nick Meijer pass from the right wing to sent the crowd into raptures.

Bloemendaal’s Teun de Nooijer (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the Euro Hockey League semi-final match against Amsterdam

KHC Dragons pressed hard for the equalizer but Bloemendaal held firm. The Dutch side doubled the lead when Rogier Hofman, scored his second for the day, off a measured pass from celebrated striker Teun de Nooijer.

The title win is a fitting farewell to Teun de Nooijer, who played his last official club match after announcing his retirement from international matches earlier.

To top it all, Teun de Nooijer was also named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player in his final playing season. He was also named tournament’s Most Valuable Player in the 2009 edition.

This is the second time that Bloemendaal have won the EHL title – they had earlier won it in 2009.

KHC Dragons may have finished runners-up but emerged as the first team from Belgium to win a silver medal in the Euro Hockey League.

Earlier in the semifinals, KHC Dragons prevailed over German club side Rot-Weiss Köln 5-4 in penalty shootout. The shootout was resorted to after both teams were locked 3-3 in regulation time and 1-1 in extra time.

HC Bloemendaal also got the better of Amsterdam H&BC in penalty shootout – Wouter Jolie scoring the winning goal in the shootout.

Earlier in the quarterfinals HC Bloemendaal, humbled English club side Beeston 4-1.

Amsterdam H&BC, which have the likes of Dutch international Floris Evers, Billy Bakker and legendary drag-flicker Taeke Taekema, edged out German club side Berliner 3-2 in a needle contest.

In the other quarterfinals, Rot-Weiss Köln pulled off a solitary extra time goal win over Uhlenhorst Mülheim. KHC Dragons made a mincemeat of Reading HC 5-1.

It may be worth recalling that German club side Uhlenhorster HC won the 2012 edition while Dutch club side HGC took the crown in 2011. Uhlenhorster HC bagged the crown in 2010 and 2008.