Several stars of the EHL have been named on the FIH Hockey Stars awards shortlist following their superb years for club and country.
SCHC’s Xan de Waard signed off on a remarkable club career with the Bilthoven outfit’s first EHL Women’s success last Easter when they edged out Den Bosch.
It provided a glittering end to her domestic career before helping the Oranje win the Pro League and reach the World Cup final in the summer before retiring from all forms of professional hockey.
She is on the women’s player of the year shortlist alongside Belgium and Den Bosch’s Charlotte Englebert and Argentina’s Sofia Cairo.
On the men’s side, Hamburger Polo Club’s Justus Weigand is on the shortlist of three for the player of the year following his World Cup gold while he helped his club win a maiden German national championship last season as well.
Tomi Domene, meanwhile, was the World Cup top goalscorer, capping a year in which the Argentinean also was a vital figure in Waterloo Ducks winning the Belgian title. They will vye with Royal Léopold’s Tom Boon for this award.
On the goalkeeping front, AH&BC Amsterdam’s Anne Veenendaal is up for the award along with Australia’s Jocelyn Bartram and Argentina’s Cristina Cosentino. Amsterdam will make their EHL return next Easter after a couple of years hiatus.
The men’s shortlist has Rot-Weiss Köln and Germany goalkeeper Jean-Paul Danneberg – who will play in EHL ROUND1 in Eindhoven next month – Belgium’s Vincent Vanasch who helped Orée qualify for the EHL and Luis Calzado who was in the SV Kampong side that was victorious last Easter.
In the Rising Star category, Rot-Weiss Köln duo Jakob Brilla and Justus Warweg are up against French star Malo Martinache who moves to Gantoise this season having starred for Lille MHC in their championship winning side.
Waterloo Ducks’ Famke Van Heel is on the women’s rising star shortlist.
The shortlist was selected by a global panel of hockey experts, comprising primarily current national team coaches, alongside former international players and experienced TV commentators.
The voting process is now open*, giving hockey experts, international athletes (= the captains of each national women’s and men’s team), media, fans and fellow players the opportunity to recognise the stars who have made 2026 a year to remember. Deadline for voting: 30 September at 23:59.
** Fans can vote for their favourite stars here: https://www.fih.hockey/events/hockey-stars/poll
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