EuroHockeyLeague return presents tough test for Grange

Grange Hockey Club return to the EuroHockeyLeague (EHL) for the first time in three seasons when Round 1 of the continent’s premier club competition gets underway in Hamburg, Germany this weekend (9-11 October).

The capital outfit, led by Head Coach Colin Clarke, have been handed a challenging draw in Pool B, facing 2013-14 EHL champions and hosts Harvestehuder THC, and Austrian side HC Wien.

With only the first placed team from each of the four qualifying pools progressing to the KO16, the competition has never been tougher.

Grange’s previous participation in the EHL came in the 2012/13 edition and proved to be a real learning curve, losing 13-0 to Dutch side Rotterdam and 8-0 to Berliner of Germany in Barcelona. They also failed to get out of the group stage in the 2007/08 competition.

Speaking on the EHL website, Grange goalkeeper and Scotland U21 international Sean Hadfield said, “We are looking forward to the challenge of playing the ex-EHL champions, Harvestehuder.

“For the majority of our team, it will be their first time playing at the EHL so it will be an incredible experience playing the hosts in front of a home crowd.

“Our game against HC Wein is the game we are really targeting to try and get a positive result and hopefully notch Grange hockey club’s first win at the EHL!”

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(Grange goalkeeper Sean Hadfield, pictured in action against Bromac Kelburne, is looking forward to the EHL this weekend. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)

The Stags’ first encounter on Friday (16.00 BST) is a clash with hosts Harvestehuder. THC. The Germans made their EHL debut in 2013/14, stunning the hockey world with dramatic tournament win, beating Netherlands’ Oranje Zwart on a penalty shoot-out to claim a maiden title at the first time of asking.

Nevertheless, the Hamburg-based outfit found defending their European crown a test too far last season, losing out to Belgium’s KHC Dragons in the KO16 round.

There is little doubt that they start as clear favourites to win the pool, particularly with a team littered with talent, including Germany’s double Olympic Gold Medallist and 2010 International Hockey Federation Young Player of the Year Tobi Hauke. Austrian international Michael Korper is deadly from penalty corners too.

On Saturday, HC Wien will be Grange’s second opponents. The Austrian national champions are making their debut season in the EHL and therefore this tie between the two sides is likely to be more keenly contested and evenly matched.

Like Grange, Wien qualified for the EHL on the back of a national play-off final win, defeating SV Arminen to register their first national success in over two decades.

Players to watch include Poland’s Michal Siejkowski, Michal Zdrojewski, Sebastian Wladysiak and Lukasz Staniczek, while Tobias Handel-Mazzetti captains the team.

Both matches will be screened live by the EHL. Please visit the EHL website for the full schedule and more information.

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