With just 5 days to go until the best teams in Europe battle it out on the pitches of HC Den Bosch, we took the time to speak with a couple of our athletes looking to make their mark in the quest for golden glory 🫡
Zach Wallace - HC Bloemendaal
How are you feeling going into the EHL? What’s the team’s mindset heading into next week?
Feeling confident. We’ve been training hard and the last couple weeks have been about fine tuning some things before the EHL, so we’re looking to put everything into place and deliver over the whole EHL week. The mindset is simply to play with lots of energy, and take the game to the other teams and we’ll see where that leaves us by the end.
Just how special is this tournament to you? What would winning the EHL mean to you?
The EHL is always special. You can think of so many incredible moments that have happened in the competition, and of course it holds a special place to Bloemendaal as a whole with all the success the club has had. It’s actually my first time playing in the Final 8 so I’m excited to experience it and winning it would be incredible!
What can we expect to see from you and the team next week?
From a team perspective, we will want to show everyone what Bloemendaal is about. Lots of exciting hockey, but underpinned by strong defence and work ethic first that gives us the platform to play. Individually, the idea is to approach it just as I do all my hockey. I want to play with freedom, be creative and help make the difference and having the buzz of an important competition helps me do that.
Hannah McLoughlin - Gantoise HC
How are you feeling going into the EHL? What’s the team’s mindset heading into next week?
Honestly, I’m feeling really focused and excited. There’s a great sense of momentum building in our team, and the team’s in a good headspace. We’ve been training hard, performing well in the domestic league and the energy is positive. We know the level of competition will be high, but we are excited for that test. The mindset is clear: be focused, confident in our preparation, give full energy and enjoy it.
Just how special is this tournament to you? What would winning the EHL mean to you?
The EHL isn’t just another tournament, it’s the pinnacle of European club hockey. To be part of it is exciting in itself, but to have the mindset to compete for a medal takes it to another level and is new for me. It represents everything we work for all season. the highs, the lows, the moments when we have to dig deep. Winning the EHL would be a first. Not just for me, but for the team, the club, and everyone who supports us. It would be a legacy moment, and I do believe it is possible but requires all of us to be at our absolute best.
What can we expect to see from you and the team next week?
You can expect a very exciting game. We want to play fast, smart, and with purpose. Everyone has a role on the team, and we’re all ready to do whatever it takes. Across the team we have a wide rage of skillsets across defence, midfield and strikers which is really cool. It’s definitely going to be a battle, nothing will be given easily but we are ready to showcase what we can do and we can't wait!
