Oranje-Rood get back in action for the new Hoofdklasse season on Sunday when they take on SCHC in Bilthoven (2pm CET), looking to continue their long unbeaten run in the league competition.
The Eindhoven club topped the table last term in the regular season without suffering a defeat, collecting 56 points out of 66 from their 22 games.
SCHC, for their part, had a similar record in the second tier en route to promotion and will be keen to make their mark but they face an Oranje-Rood side building up to their EHL return after a seven-year absence.
Their return to Europe will be extra special with the club hosting EHL Men’s ROUND1 at their home ground in Eindhoven in October.
The Eindhoven side combines international experience with exciting talent and has plenty of star quality throughout the squad. That was underlined at the recent World Cup where Spanish trio Pol Cabré-Verdiell, Gerard Clapés and Borja Lacalle won silver while Argentine goalkeeper Tomi Santiago returned with a bronze medal.
Dutch internationals Joep de Mol and Tijmen Reyenga and Belgium’s Arthur de Sloover add further world-class experience. Up front, Scottish striker Struan Walker made a huge impact in his first season in Eindhoven, scoring 26 goals and winning the prestigious Gouden Stick as the Hoofdklasse’s best player.
Oranje-Rood have further strengthened their squad for the new season. Jaïr van der Horst returns to Eindhoven from Den Bosch, as does Pim Haring following his spell with Tilburg, while Belgian international Victor Foubert joins from KHC Dragons.
At the same time, the club continues to invest in young talent and the pathway from its own academy into the first team.
Oranje-Rood’s European heritage runs deep. In 2015, predecessor club Oranje Zwart lifted the EHL trophy with current Oranje-Rood defender Joep de Mol part of that famous team.
Another member of the 2015 EHL-winning side, Thijs Bams, is now part of the Heren 1 coaching staff as assistant coach. – providing a direct link between that historic European triumph and the team returning to the EHL today.
Club heroes Bob de Voogd and Jelle Galema helped them qualify with their performances last season before retiring from the panel having played a huge part in their EHL story.
Elsewhere in the Hoofdklasse, Rotterdam go to Bloemendaal, Den Bosch host SV Kampong and AH&BC Amsterdam take on Tilburg.
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