Gantoise became the newest EHL Men’s team to write themselves into the annals of the competition’s history as they won a wild 5-2 final win over Bloemendaal.
Alexander Hendrickx wrote himself further into folklore as the first player to score a hat-rick in the title game as the power flicker also won back-to-back titles with different clubs having scored the winner a year ago for Pinoké.
It also ended Bloemendaal’s incredible record of never losing a final in the EHL, winning all six of their previous runs to the big decider.
Bloemendaal’s Zach Wallace pulled a goal back at 2-0 down but Hendrickx was soon on hand to keep the lead two ahead while he produced the final effort with a last-minute goal.
Den Bosch were once again crowned the EHL Women champions as they proved too strong for Braxgata, winning the final 5-1 with plenty of distance to spare in front of a sold out home crowd.
Frédérqiue Matla set them on their way in the seventh minute when she was found alone on the right of the circle by Maartje Krekelaar and had the time to switch the ball onto her backhand into the net.
Matla scored again before the break before Krekelaar also recorded a brace.
Nonetheless, it was a breakthrough for domestic Belgium teams who had a first top two finish in the highest club tier since Uccle in 1979 in the old EuroHockey Club Champions Cup. Gantoise also won the EHL U14 boys title.
But Den Bosch remain the queens of the scene with a third title since 2021 as the home crowd went home happy.
Euro-plicity
Meanwhile, British clubs couldn’t make any mark on the medal matches.
Sam Ward inspired Old Georgians to a 3-2 ranking match win over Royal Léopold, a result which earns them a fifth place finish with the Belgians taking seventh overall.
OGs lost out to HC Rotterdam 6-3, a match where they failed to notch from a host of PC chances.
Surbiton secured fifth spot in EHL Men as their excellent shoot-out series saw them overcome Club de Campo de Madrid in their ranking match.
They led twice in normal time but eventually had to go the full distance against their Spanish rivals in an even contest.
Elsewhere, Railway Union picked up Ireland’s first win in EHL Women’s history as Lily Lloyd’s single goal notched a special piece of history for the Dublin club.
It earned a 1-0 win over Ukraine’s MSC Sumchanka in their Ranking Match, earning the Dubliners a ninth place finish with the latter ending in 11th overall.
