EHL 09 Round 1.1 discussion

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[HockeyStats]

Yes, he is in the roster but I found on the official website of New Zealand Hockey Association that he's currently playing in Auckland.
Maybe he'll go back in Holland later... 

[Goalie64]

I think there was a mention that several NZ players were back home in preparation for an upcoming tournament, and that Archibald had been granted permission to stay in Europe.

[ragyrascal]

I agree with a lot of what Hockeystats has said about the Rotterdam squad - they came into the round having not lost a league game to my eyes look capable of going a long while more the same way.
There seem to be quite a few players missing this year, Schikendantz is not listed on Egara's team list and I can't see Eddie Tubau anywhere, who, for my money, is one of the top five players in the world.

I also agree with Jerome that the RW Koln squad looks pretty formidable this year with a few Bloemendaal 'rejects' in there. Looking forward to the next round immensely.

[Jerome_LOU_HOCKEY]

Schikendantz has joined Madrid (Club de Campo) for his studies, but he was very closed to sign in Leuven...
I don't know what happened to Edi Tubau!

[ragyrascal]

Schikendantz has joined Madrid (Club de Campo) for his studies, but he was very closed to sign in Leuven...
I don't know what happened to Edi Tubau!

Actually I just read that Tubau joined Club de Campo too, so another strong Spanish team there.

[Jerome_LOU_HOCKEY]

You're right!
http://www.rfeh.com/web/clubes/equipoasociado.jsp?listaClub=1&datosclub=1&federacion=77&club=357&equipo=10426
It seems that they wan't to have their own galactics! 

[Craggsy]

With the second round not being until April, Santi Frexia should be back for Amsterdam (I think anyway). They have a great team, but seem to miss him up front. Rotterdam look very strong, with them missing Child and co they can only get better. As for Koln, there team is pretty much Team Germany minus a few people, so they should be very efficient to say the least.

I still fancy UHC to do well, as they seem to love the EHL. As for English sides, Reading look good, but whether they can compete with the likes of Bloomendahl, Amsterdam etc etc, time will tell.

[ragyrascal]

Yep Jerome, that is a tidy looking squad and three great high profile imports if you include Biederlack, who obviously fancies getting a tan this winter.

I don't think UHL looked so strong this year, they seem more and more reliant on Fuerste and I think they will do ok, but perhaps not successfully defend the title.
I also don't see Reading reaching that far - not that I am writing them off, just a suspicion based on the strength and depth of the other teams.
I know it's early days but I am predicting Rotterdam will cruise to the final, probably playing RotWeiss Koln or Bloemendaal.

[HockeyStats]

I don't think recovering Santi will be the decisive weapon to cruise Amsterdam to the Final Four.
RW Koln maybe have the best starting XI of the EHL, but IMO they haven't a deep roster to reach the title.
Maybe the deepest roster is for Rotterdam and Bloemendaal.
Also IMO it's important to stress that the Dutch Hoofdklasse is, at the moment, the most competitive in Europe and this is a big advantage for dutch team because they are use to play balanced matches.
Just few words for HC Bra, the italian team involved in the Round 1.2. IMO they have a good chance to clinch for the first time KO16 because even if RW Koln is too strong for them, they will face Club Egara. As wrote down here Club Egara loose Alegre brothers, Tubau and Willy S. Maybe this will be an opportunity for Bra that have in roster 6 foreign players (3 czech, 2 from India, 1 dutch).

[Jerome_LOU_HOCKEY]

Even after losing 4 major players, Club Egara is leading his group after 3 games (2 W and 1 D).
So HC Bra should not be too confident!
After watching Rotterdam-Kelburne (thanks to HockeyStats), it appears to me that Archibald was playing for the dutch team...