Wimbledon’s much changed panel opened up their English men’s league campaign with a lively 8-4 win over Reading as they look to bed in several new arrivals.
Of those additions, USA international Kei Kaeppeler (from Hampstead & Westminster) scored twice on debut from play while Louis Tipper (from East Grinstead) was also on the mark.
There were also debuts for Welsh international goalkeeper Toby Reynolds-Cotterill, Zach Mason (from Richmond) and Alex Sheldon (East Grinstead) this week.
It offsets the departures during the summer of Fred Newbold to Hurley in the Netherlands, Rhys Bradshaw, Joe McConnell, Ore Ogunlana, Sam McCulloch and the retirement of Ed Horler.
Despite the changes, they got off to a flying start with Kaeppeler outing them in front in the fourth minute and they built a 5-0 lead by half-time.
Reading cut the gap with two goals in the third quarter but Wimbledon stayed well out of reach with new captain Sam Hooper (pictured) netting a hat trick of corners.
He is among their international stars along with Ben Fox while Liam Ansell’s forceful presence gives them another big threat for their EHL challenge when they come up against Hamburger Polo Club.
It will be their sixth EHL campaign, their best run being their 2016/17 campaign when they reach the FINAL4 in Brasschaat.
