The Hockey Paper runs the rule over the latest action in the men’s and women’s HIL in Ranchi and Rourkela
Men’s Hockey India League
Match of the week
The Vedanta Kalinga Lancers pulled off a stunning comeback to earn a shootout victory against the Delhi SG Pipers in the ongoing Hero Hockey India League.
The Kalinga Lancers were trailing 1-4 at the halfway mark, but goals from Alexander Hendrickx (13’, 52’), Thierry Brinkman (35’, 47’) and Angad Bir Singh (49’) saw them make a remarkable comeback and win the subsequent shootout.

The SG Pipers, despite strikes from Tomas Domene (18’, 20’), Corey Weyer (21’), Koji Yamasaki (23’) and Dilraj Singh (37’), continue their wait for their first win of the season.
The two teams were tied at 2-2 in the shootout when the pressure got to Pawan and he shoved Dilpreet from behind to give away a penalty stroke. Hendrickx made no mistake from the spot as the Kalinga Lancers took a 3-2 lead and their goalkeeper Toby Reynolds-Cotterill pulled off a brilliant save to win them the shoot-out and the bonus point.
It all came down to a Toby Reynolds-Cotterill save in the penalty shootout to grab the win for Kalinga Lancers! Definitely the Hero Moment of the Night!
Watch the LIVE coverage on DD Sports, Waves, Sony TEN 1, Sony TEN 3, Sony TEN 4 and Sony LIV!#HeroHIL #HockeyKaJashn… pic.twitter.com/t7s1yNJhBi
— Hockey India League (@HockeyIndiaLeag) January 19, 2025
Soorma on the charge
JSW Soorma Hockey Club beat Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers 2-1 in a high-voltage match in Rourkela on Monday. Goals were scored by Prabhjot Singh (21′), and Maninder Singh (28′) while Jugraj Singh (39′) scored the lone goal for the Tigers.
This was a significant win for Soorma Hockey Club as it was only their second outright win in the league and with phase II underway now; they need to win every game to stay in contention for the play-offs.
What they say
“I believe in the things that we’ve done so far. I think we have been playing really good hockey, only thing is to get the result to go our side now and that means we have to be better in the offensive circle. We’ve been focusing again on it for the last week and we have to make a step up. I really believe in the steps that we’ve made, but now it’s upto us all to be efficient in the circle.”
JSW Soorma Hockey Club coach Jeroen Baart
Men’s top scorers
Theirry Brinkman – 8
Tomas Domene – 7
Women’s Hockey India League
Stat Attack
It was a memorable night for hockey fans at a packed Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium as the Odisha Warriors beat the Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers 3-1, with Women’s Hero Hockey India League matches moving over to Rourkela. The match was played out in front of a reported 20,000 fans, with HIL men’s matches also taking place.
Michelle Fillet (16`), Yibbi Jansen (18` and 47`) and Neha Goyal (58`) scored for the Odisha Warriors while Udita (30`) scored for the Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers.
The two sides had played out a 1-1 draw three days earlier in Ranchi with the Odisha Warriors then winning the penalty shoot-out thanks to goalkeeper Jocelyn Bartram’s heroics. Penalty shoot-outs were not required tonight as the Warriors secured the win in style to take them to the top of the points table with eight points.
Standing out

Hockey Paper columnist Lily Owsley jumps high as Delhi SG Pipers ended their winless run in the Women’s HIL with 2-0 victory against table toppers JSW Soorma
Win reversal
JSW Soorma Hockey Club then returned to winning ways with a comprehensive 5-1 victory over Delhi SG Pipers. Charlotte Englebert (6’) and Sonam (9’, 10’) gave Soorma a comfortable lead in the first quarter. Charlotte Stapenhorst (36’) further extended the lead in the third quarter but Sangita Kumari (38’) pulled a goal back soon after. But Penny Squibb (60’) found the back of the net in the last minute to round off a five star performance for Soorma.
Life on Tour
Women’s top scorers
Sonam – 4
Yibbi Jansen – 4
What they say
“There may be four teams only this time but starting the league has been a long time coming. Hockey India needs to be complimented for this. The men’s hockey team won back-to-back bronze medals in the Olympics in Tokyo and Paris because the foundation was laid by the men’s Hockey India League years back. Now thanks to the introduction of the women’s HIL, we will get to see a lot of talented young women showcase their mettle in the 2032 and 2036 Olympics. This platform will turn out immensely fruitful.”
Rani Rampal