18th July 2016, Brussels: The stage is set for the tenth edition of the Euro Hockey League as the EHF today confirmed the schedule for Round 1 of the 2016/17 season of the world’s premier club hockey competition.
For Round 1, Banbridge will host four groups of three clubs with the winner from each group advancing to the KO16 where they will join 12 pre-qualified sides in the knock-out phases.
Indeed, it promises to be another exciting instalment of the EHL as the competition comes to Ireland for the first time. Potentially over 20 Olympians will take part in Round 1 while over 50 Rio-bound players from eight different countries set to take part across the whole competition when the KO16 begins at Easter 2017.
Pool D opens the action each day with Scottish champions Kelburne facing Russia’s Dinamo Kazan – one of only two ever-present teams in the EHL – in the first game. Both will look to upset last year’s FINAL4 side Atlètic Terrassa on the Saturday and Sunday for a ticket to the KO16.
Wales’ Cardiff & Met and Italy’s SG Amsicora start off Pool B. Both will be looking to get a first win for their country in the EHL before turning their attentions to matches against UHC Hamburg on October 8 and 9.
Hosts Banbridge are in Pool C; they will enter the fray on the Saturday afternoon against France’s Saint Germain before facing Royal Leopold on Sunday evening in the final game of the weekend. Leo and Saint Germain meet on the Friday in this group’s first game.
Reigning champions SV Kampong get a chance to view their Pool A opponents on the Friday evening when KS AZS AWF Poznan play newcomers Holcombe. The English side’s game with Kampong is potentially one of the highlights of the weekend on the Saturday before the Dutch team meet Poznan.
Tickets for Round 1 will now go on sale on Tuesday, July 19 at 1pm (CET) for what is set to be another thrilling instalment of the world’s best club hockey.
EHL 2016-2017 – Match schedule Round 1
7-9 October 2016 at HC Banbridge, Banbridge (IRL)
| Pool A | Pool B | Pool C | Pool D |
| SV Kampong (NED) | UHC Hamburg (GER) | Royal Leopold (BEL) | Atlètic Terrassa HC (ESP) |
| KS AZS AWF Poznan (POL) | Cardiff & Met (WAL) | Saint Germain HC (FRA) | Kelburne HC (SCO) |
| Holcombe HC (ENG) | Amsicora (ITA) | Banbridge HC (IRL) | Dinamo Kazan (RUS) |
Friday 7 October 2016
M1 11.45h Pool D Kelburne HC (SCO) – Dinamo Kazan (RUS)
M2 14.00h Pool B Cardiff & Met (WAL) – Amsicora (ITA)
M3 16.15h Pool C Royal Leopold (BEL) – Saint Germain HC (FRA)
M4 18.30h Pool A KS AZS AWF Poznan (POL) – Holcombe HC (ENG)
Saturday 8 October 2016
M5 10.15h Pool D Atlètic Terrassa HC (ESP) – Dinamo Kazan (RUS)
M6 12.30h Pool B UHC Hamburg (GER) – Amsicora (ITA)
M7 14.45h Pool C Saint Germain HC (FRA) – Banbridge HC (IRL)
M8 17.00h Pool A SV Kampong (NED) – Holcombe HC (ENG)
Sunday 9 October 2016
M9 09.00h Pool D Atlètic Terrassa HC (ESP) – Kelburne HC (SCO)
M10 11.15h Pool B UHC Hamburg (GER) – Cardiff & Met (WAL)
M11 13.30h Pool A SV Kampong (NED) – KS AZS AWF Poznan (POL)
M12 15.45h Pool C Royal Leopold (BEL) – Banbridge HC (IRL)
The 12 teams that have received a Bye into KO16 are:
HC Oranje-Rood (NED), AHBC Amsterdam (NED), KTHC Rot-Weiss Koln (GER), Mannheimer HC (GER), KHC Dragons (BEL), Racing Club de Bruxelles (BEL), Club Egara (ESP), Real Club de Polo (ESP), Wimbledon (ENG), Racing Club de France (FRA), WKS Grunwald Poznan (POL), Lisnagarvey HC (IRL)
Note: Match times and schedule subject to change due to the requirements of television or other factors as determined by EHL.
EHL/EHF – 18 July 2016