Following the completion of Rounds 1.1 and 1.2, The Euro Hockey League and the European Hockey Federation are delighted to announce that H.C. Rotterdam (NED) will be the host club for KO16 of the 2011/12 season.
KO16 – which takes place over Easter between Friday 6th and Monday 9th April 2012 – is the jewel in the crown of the Euro Hockey League, being an event that witnesses sixteen of the finest club teams in Europe going head-to-head in knock-out action. Just four teams will remain in the competition at the end of the four day event, forming the line-up for May’s grand finale: EHL Final Four.
H.C. Rotterdam has a fine tradition in hosting world level events, being the stage for a number of FIH Champions Trophy events (2001 & 2008) as well as the Men’s Junior World Cup in 2005. Founded in 1925, H.C. Rotterdam is one of the biggest hockey club in the Netherlands with over 2.450 current members and an impressive venue that includes three water-based as well as four sand-filled full-size hockey fields. H.C. Rotterdam has two covered stands with a capacity of over 3,000 spectators, ensuring that there will be plenty of room for supporters from all 16 teams to enjoy the match action. The H.C. Rotterdam team always performs well in the EHL, having finished third on two occasions (2008 & 2009) before taking the Silver medal in 2010.
“We are extremely excited about returning once again to H.C. Rotterdam”, said Jons Hensel, Chairman of the Euro Hockey League board. “They have an outstanding track record in hosting big hockey events, doing a superb job of hosting EHL Final Four both in 2008 and 2009, as well as KO16 in 2010. Following from last season’s stunning event in Bloemendaal, we are confident that this unique, four day event will be a great success at H.C. Rotterdam’s world class facility.”
The first phase of KO16 sees Europe’s top sixteen teams face each other in Round 2, to be played on Friday 6th & Saturday 7th April 2012. The winners of the Round 2 knock-out matches will reach the Quarter Finals, with matches being played on the Sunday 8th & Monday 9th April 2012.
The KO16 draw, which can be found below, was made by European Hockey Federation President Marijke Fleuren and Vice President Jorge Alcover.
“It is fantastic to be going back to H.C. Rotterdam, a club which has done such an impressive job of hosting Euro Hockey League events in the past” said President Fleuren. “We are very excited about the event. The draw has produced some wonderful games, with host club Rotterdam’s meeting with Uhlenhorst Mülheim just one of the many highlights.”
Information about Round 2/Round 3 (KO16) - 6-9 April 2012
All 16 qualifying clubs will compete in EHL Round 2 (KO16) on either 6 or 7 April 2012. Clubs winning their Round 2 matches will compete in EHL Round 3 (last 8 knockout phase) on either 8 or 9 April 2012.
Clubs finishing in 1st place in their pool will be seeded in the draw based on the ranking position in the EHF Ranking Table at the end of 2010/11 of the first named club in each pool (irrespective of which position that club finished in their pool in Round 1). Clubs finishing in 2nd place in each pool will be drawn by open draw into the remaining 8 places in Round 2. Clubs will not be drawn against a club they have already played in Round 1.
KO16 Rotterdam - Round 2 Draw.
Amsterdam H&BC V Dinamo Kazan (RUS)
HC Bloemendaal (NED) V Atlétic Terrassa HC (ESP)
KHC Dragons (BEL) V Dinamo Elektrostal (RUS)
Club an der Alster (GER) V Reading HC (ENG)
Beeston HC (ENG) V Club de Campo Madrid (ESP)
UHC Hamburg (GER) V RC Polo de Barcelona (ESP)
East Grinstead HC (ENG) V CA Montrouge (FRA)
Uhlenhorst Mülheim (GER) V H.C. Rotterdam (NED)
Full details about the draw and tournament structure can be found on www.ehlhockey.tv .
Euro Hockey League Media Release.
