For the nineteenth time, the women of HC ‘s-Hertogenbosch have crowned the best hockey club in Europe. On Monday afternoon, the Bosschenaren won the final of the Euro Hockey League on their own field with 5-1 of the Belgian Braxgata. “It is very cool to stand here at our own club with the prize,” said Babs Reijnen player.
The Euro Hockey League (EHL) can be seen as the Champions League in hockey. From Wednesday, April 16, a total of twenty teams came into action for men and women in an attempt to reach the final on Monday. The difference with football is huge. The winning team may not add millions of euros to the account, but 10,000 euros.
The public interest in hockey cannot be compared with the top level in football. Although Monday, just like Sunday during the semi-finals, there was no spot free at the sports park of the organizing HC ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Especially for the tournament, temporary grandstands were placed opposite the main stand, so there were 5,000 visitors to the Oosterplas.
One of the visitors was Mees (11) from Den Bosch. He hockey himself at the club and swung enthusiastically with a yellow flag in his hand. “I think it is very cool that the women are in the final. I really hope they will win, but that should be fine.”
Belgian winner
Before the Bossche Women played their European final, it was the turn of the men of Bloemendaal. The last four times a Dutch club won the EHL, but this time six-time winner Bloemendaal was surprised by the Belgian Gantoise: 5-2.
The Bossche Vrouwen then made clear from the start who the big favorite was. In the semi -final, it was still very difficult to win from the Belgian Gantoise; In the final, Braxgata was not able to cope with the ‘Bossche Violence’. Top scorer Frédérique Matla signed early for the 1-0, in the second quarter two hits were added via Matla and Maartje Krekelaar.
Teuntje de Wit and Krekelaar hurt the Belgians even more in the third quarter: 5-0. From a penalty corner, the guests managed to save the honor with the 5-1. In the fourth quarter there were chances on both sides, but the stand no longer changed.
Record series
The Bossche team recently won the national cup and is now the best club in Europe. The next goal is the national title. Three prizes in a season would be unique for the formation of trainer Marieke Dijkstra and there is plenty of confidence within the players’ group. For the last defeat in the competition we have to go back to September 18, 2022, when Amsterdam was 2-0 too strong. 60 league games in a row without defeat is a big national record.
“As a team we want to grow further,” says Emma Reijnen. “I hope that the injury cases will return quickly and that we will close the season nicely.” Her sister Babs hopes that the undefeated series will take a while. “We compete for the prizes and we succeeded today. But we will certainly continue, we are not there yet.”
