The EHL Men KO16 draw has served up a series of enticing fixtures as the path to next Easter’s FINAL8 was laid out today.
Each team will be hoping to win their two matches at the event played at Surbiton from October 3rd to 6th.
Winners of each initial KO16 match go through to a KO8 showdown from which the FINAL8 tickets are decided. Losers of the KO16 games will play in a Ranking Match for precious ranking points for each nation.
As such, the draw is effectively segmented into four sections from which one FINAL8 ticket will be decided.
The first section of the draw sees four-time medalists HC Rotterdam come up against Czechia’s TJ Plzeń Litice who made their debut last season in the EHL.
The winner of that game will come up against either Hamburger Polo Club from Germany or Austria’s SV Arminen.
Section two has 2019 bronze medalists Mannheimer HC going up against AHTC Wien who are back in the EHL after an 11-year break.
Next on the agenda for the victor of that one will be either six-time champions HC Bloemendaal or Spanish regular season winners Real Club de Polo.
Home hosts Surbiton are at the top of what looks to be a hugely competitive third section. They will face Waterloo Ducks, a rematch of their 2019 KO16 battle in Eindhoven.
The other English side, Wimbledon, and Scotland’s Western Wildcats lie in wait in the next phase of this quadrant.
The fourth section sees debutants Grasshopper Club Zurich from Switzerland enter the fray against French champions Lille MHC.
They will hope to advance to the KO8 to play either Banbridge from Ireland or Belgium’s Royal Léopold – the Irish side will hope to repeat their 2016 heroics when they eliminated Léo.
The match schedule will be released on Thursday afternoon when tickets will also go on sale.
EHL Men KO16, October 3rd to 6th 2024 (at Surbiton Hockey Club, England)
HC Rotterdam (NED) v TJ Plzeń Litice (CZE)
Hamburger Polo Club (GER) v SV Arminen (AUT)
Mannheimer HC (GER) v AHTC Wien (AUT)
HC Bloemendaal (NED) v Real Club de Polo (ESP)
Surbiton HC (ENG) v Waterloo Ducks (BEL)
Wimbledon (ENG) v Western Wildcats (SCO)
Lille MHC (FRA) v Grasshopper Club Zurich (SUI)
Banbridge (IRL) v Royal Léopold (BEL)
