EHL: Mendez Pin and Orée relishing first ever EHL challenge – EHL

Royal Orée’s Lucas Mendez Pin says the club’s debut in the EHL will be exactly the kind of challenge he was hoping for when he moved to Europe as they head to Eindhoven this weekend for ROUND1.

Orée completed their pre-EHL Belgian league schedule on Sunday with a lively 3-3 draw against Royal Racing Club de Bruxelles. It was a battle in which they trailed twice before leading 3-2 courtesy of goals from their French contingent Max Branicki and a Victor Saint-Martin double.

It leaves them in eighth place after four hard-fought rounds in which they were the only side to take points off league leaders Royal Léopold.

And Mendez Pin says the side is finding its feet with a new panel following their landmark qualification for the EHL.

“It’s amazing,” he says of the prospect of finally stepping onto the EHL stage. “I think it’s one of the best competitions in the world. For our team, it’s also a new experience and we are really excited to play.”

“Growing up in Argentina, we watch the EHL all the time. It’s a competition that I think everyone that plays hockey wants to play. It was a dream to play and now we have the chance.”

His own journey to Oree began two years ago when he arrived in Europe for the first time, joining a side coached by fellow Argentine Olympic champion Facundo Callioni.

They form part of a significant influence from South America with countrymen Tadeo Marcucci, Facundo Sarto and Matias Andreotti also in situ at the club.

For Mendez Pin, the first season was one of adaptation to his new surroundings in Europe and finding his feet. Success arrived the following season far quicker than many anticipated.

Last season, Oree not only secured a third-place finish in the Belgian championship but also booked their place in the EHL for the first time ever.

“The second year we knew each other a lot better and we improved a lot,” Mendez Pin recalls. “We got the ticket for the EHL and third place in the championship. It was the first time in the history of the club and, of course, it was amazing.

“Now it’s my third season. A lot of players have gone to another team and lots of new players are here. Of course, [Tadeo and I] have a new role because we are the leaders of the team. But I’m excited about it.”

Of those changes, Vincent Vanasch has joined Léopold. In defense, Dorian Thiéry, Lautaro Domene, and Hugo Labouchère will leave a big void.

In midfield, Luca Masso and Philippe Simar have also left while Martin Ferreiro will remain in Argentina for personal reasons.

Andreotti has been a key addition after Argentina’s World Cup bronze while New Zealanders Finn Ward ad Malachi Buschl add to their panel. Saint-Martin’s drag-flicks are already proving important.

“We have a lot of work to do because a lot of players went to another club and new players came in. To assemble everything is quite tricky and we need time for that. But I think the boys have adapted really well to the team. We have improved a lot, but we need to keep going if we want to stay at the top.”

Despite those changes, the Argentine believes the club’s international mix remains one of its greatest strengths.

With players from Belgium, Argentina, England, Switzerland and New Zealand sharing the same dressing room, he feels the different hockey cultures continue to enrich the squad.

“I think it’s good because you always learn something new from another country and from another culture. It gives us new creative ideas from each other.

“Of course, it’s different because someone speaks one language, another speaks something else, so we have to bring everything together and try to connect. Sometimes it’s quite tricky, but we have done it really well and we will continue with that.

“For us as Argentineans, it is also really important to play in Europe because in Argentina it’s almost impossible to do it professionally. That’s why it’s so important to come and play with the best teams.

“It gives us contact and experience with players that in Argentina you don’t usually play with or against. That gives us experience in matches and helps us when we go back to the national team.”

Now, attention is turning firmly towards Oree’s first EHL challenge, where German powerhouse Rot-Weiss Köln stand in their way along with Czechia’s Slavia Prague.

Packed with international talent and extensive EHL experience, the German side will start as favourites, but Mendez Pin is embracing the opportunity.

“I think they have a lot of national players for Germany. Of course, it will be a tough game, but we look for that. We want to win, but we need to do really hard work to make it happen.”