Waterloo Geese’ Simon Vandenbroucke says he’s “leaving the dream” together with his childhood membership as they sit up for their EHL KO16 Males’s date with Surbiton on October 5th.
Will probably be a rematch of a 2019 showdown in Eindhoven when the WatDucks edged by means of in a shoot-out en path to EHL gold.
Since then, a variety of water has gone beneath the bridge with many modifications to both line-up. For goalkeeper Vandenbroucke, it got here throughout a time spent away from his boyhood membership.
He grew up at Waterloo in his youth alongside the likes of William Ghislain and Max van Oost. Collectively, they gained nationwide titles at Underneath-14 and 16 degree earlier than reaching the primary staff squad when nonetheless of their teenagers.
Whereas the outfielders broke by means of, the teenage Vandenbroucke discovered alternatives restricted by the presence of the superior Vincent Vanasch and so needed to look elsewhere to realize expertise, first throughout a troublesome spell with Leuven after which in an uplifting time with Beerschot with whom he performed in EHL in 2019.
“I actually obtained again the enjoyment of hockey and the enjoyment of taking part in once I was there,” he advised the EHL web site. “However then the WatDucks referred to as me as quickly as Vincent advised them that he was leaving for Rot Weiss.
“I did keep for a bit as a result of I used to be having a superb time at Beerschot however the coronary heart quickly spoke louder and I went again to my old flame. It has been among the best selections of my life, taking part in once more with my mates in my dwelling membership; nothing could be higher.”
“After I was younger, actually younger, I went each Sunday to observe the primary staff play. I’m fortunate sufficient to name a few of these gamers I used to be watching as idols my mates like Maxime Luycx, Gautier Boccard, Benjamin Van Hove and so forth.
“For the reason that starting of my profession, as quickly as I began taking part in hockey, my dream was all the time to play for the primary staff of WatDucks so I’m form of dwelling my dream proper now!”
And there’s a sturdy feeling of dedication to homegrown expertise within the camp today is a key part of their run to back-to-back nationwide championship finals.
Louis Depelsenaire is one other on the rise whereas 18-year-old Charlie Langendries is already within the Purple Lions panel introduced after the Olympic Video games. General, their wider panel has only one participant over the age of 30.
Combining that ingredient with sensible additions within the full of life Belgian switch market is paying dividends.
“It’s a mixture of the 2. We had misplaced a little bit of that tradition for a number of years however I used to be fortunate sufficient that my technology was promoted by the membership. The tradition modified a bit, bringing in some skilled gamers like this yr with Victor Wegnez; the earlier yr, we had Blaise Rougeau or Eliot Curty who add “plus” worth for the membership.
“They will actually assist the youth gamers coming by means of and, step-by-step, they’re changing into large gamers from the primary staff. It’s nice to see.”
Vandenbroucke has additionally been included in that Purple Lions setup whereas his membership aspect are using excessive after two rounds of matches within the Carlsberg 0.0 league, degree on the high with Herakles and Braxgata with new additions Wegnez, Samuel Malherbe and Tomi Domene working their manner into the panel.
The goalkeeper says they’re nonetheless a piece in progress however, all issues thought-about, it has been an upbeat begin to the brand new marketing campaign.
“We do have to regulate little particulars to actually discover our recreation and to play one of the best ways we will,” he advised the EHL web site.
“However, for the second, it’s nice. The brand new faces are superior gamers and an actual plus for the staff. I believe the opposite are additionally bettering loads, so every part goes nice.”
Olympic and World Cup champion Wegnez is the plain marquee identify, including enormous dynamism to the backbone of the staff.
Domene, in the meantime, converted after a number of years with Orée and presents a pure drag-flick alternative for Victor Charlet after the French star departed for his homeland.
Malherbe already has an EHL medal to his identify from his time with Racing Membership de Bruxelles and brings one other full of life presence to their frontline.
In two weeks’ time, Surbiton are the opponent.
“To be sincere we don’t know loads about them. We all know they’ve obtained a robust aspect and it will likely be an enormous recreation to play at their dwelling.
“The EHL is one thing actually particular as a result of it’s form of the Champions League of the hockey. It’s a contest everyone desires to play and everyone desires to win. We’re going to win for positive, however we all know we have to do one thing particular.
“Final yr towards Previous Georgians, we performed an actual battle and it’s all the time like that towards English groups so it’s actually one thing we’re trying ahead to!”
