Lille MHC defeated debutants Grasshopper Club Zurich in a shoot-out to reach the KO8 for the first time, opening the weekend of action in Surbiton with a bang.
Malo Martinache – who was the youngest player to ever play in the EHL when he lined out two years ago in Hamburg – got the winner, as he held his nerve in super style for a 4-3 success after normal time ended 1-1.
Earlier, Grasshopper had taken the lead in the first half with Oliver Habertühr touching in a rapid shot on the turn from Patrick Krüsi in the 27th minute.
A quartet of Tom Boon goals propelled Royal Léopold into the KO8, seeing off Ireland Banbridge 4-2 after a huge penalty corner battle.
For Léo, it saw them get one over the side that eliminated them from the 2016 EHL while Bann were left frustrated after a big performance for a second successive year but no ultimate outcome.
Gonzalo Peillat scored twice in each half to power Mannheimer HC to an 8-0 win over AHTC Wien, seeing them through the KO8 in Surbiton.
He started the ball rolling with two drag-flicks in the first quarter and then Andreas Rafi scored from close range for a third with barely 13 minutes gone.
Raphael Hartkopf stretched the lead out further with a rocket of a backhand shot just before half-time.
Peillat completed his hat trick with a rare goal from play, a lovely shot from the top of the circle after a sweet interchange and a nice dodge move in the circle.
Two first quarter penalty corner goals saw Bloemendaal do just about enough to get the best of Real Club de Polo and advance to Friday’s KO8, 2-1 in the final reckoning.