KHC Dragons

Koninklijke Hockey Club Dragons, also known as KHC Dragons or simply Dragons, is a Belgian field hockey club based in Brasschaat, Antwerp Province. The club was founded in 1946.[1][2][3] Since the end of the eighties the club competes in Belgium's first tier, Honour Division.

Dragons
Full nameKoninklijke Hockey Club Dragons
Nickname(s)The Reds, The Dragons
Founded26 October 1946 (1946-10-26)
Home groundThe Mansion of Dragons, Brasschaat
LeagueMen's Belgian Hockey League
Women's Hockey League
2018–19Men: 4th
Women: 8th
WebsiteClub website
Home
Away

History

HC Dragons were founded on the 26th of October 1946 at Café Royal in Berchem. With only 11 members the club played recreational hockey in the Belgian lower divisions.

Before moving in 1961 to the present location in Brasschaat the club played on different fields around Antwerp. The club's turning point came in 1981 when Jacques Daems became the president of the club. It was his ambition that the club should be one of the best in Belgium. A few years later the club installed its first artificial turf and promoted in 1988 to the Honour Division. A year later the women's team promoted to the Honour Division as well.

In 1996 the club celebrated its 50th anniversary and changed its name to Koninklijke Hockey Club Dragons (Royal Hockey Club Dragons). Meanwhile, the club installed its second artificial turf and the club won its first silverware when the women's team won in 1994 the Belgian double.

Ather the first successes with the women's team, the men's team won its first championship in 1997. Ever since both Dragons men and women are considered Belgian top teams.

Together with the rise of Belgian hockey, Dragons flourished as well at the European level. After winning its 6th national title in 2010 Dragons participated for the first time in the Euro Hockey League. Beating the reigning UHC Hamburg. One year later Dragons won the Bronze medal and played the EHL final 2013.

Besides the successes, the club kept growing in numbers and added a third artificial turf in 2013. In 2015 Dragons was the host of the World League Semi-Final and added even a fourth field. At the moment KHC Dragons count 1500 members and are the biggest hockey club in Belgium.

Pronunciation

In English communication, the club is often pronounced in an English manner. Officially though, the club has to be pronounced in the French way (drʁagõ) without 's'.

Therefore, the Dragons (De Draken) is a nickname for the players. (sometimes female players are referred to as Dragonettes).

Players

Current squad

Men's squad
As of 2020[4]
No. Position Player
Anthony Boschman
FW Cédric Charlier
FW Mathew Cobbaert
FW Nicolás Della Torre
MF Félix Denayer
DF Sebastiaan Geers
DF Max Lootens
FW Timothy Luyten
FW Lucas Martínez
No. Pos. Nation Player
DF Luke Noblett
FW Lucas Putters
FW Henri Raes
Louis Rombouts
MF Robbert Rubens
FW Florent Van Aubel
GK Tobias Walter
GK Bozz Willaert

Women's squad
As of 2020[5]
No. Position Player
DF Eugenia Bianchi
MF Fleur Broers
MF Jimena Cedrés
DF Stephanie De Groof
GK Marie Goethals
MF Annabel Herzsprung
DF Carolien Jakus
GK Roos Knijf
FW Emma Lochorm
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF Valerie Magis
FW Alix Marien
FW Delphine Marien
DF Ophelie Marien
MF Abi Raye
FW Manon Simons
FW Margaux Struyf
GK Amber Verbooven

Notable players

Men's internationals
 Belgium
 Ireland

Source:[6][7]

Women's internationals
 Belgium
 Ireland
 Italy

Source:[8]

Honours

Men
  • Men's Belgian Hockey League: 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
  • Belgian Cup : 1993, 2002, 2005
  • Belgian Indoor Championship : 1999
  • EuroHockey Club Champions Trophy : 2001
  • EuroHockey Cup Winners Trophy : 2003, 2005
  • Euro Hockey League : 2013 Runners Up Bronze Medal 2012, 2014, 2017

Women
  • Belgian Championship : 1994
  • Belgian Cup : 1994, 2005
  • Belgian Indoor Championship : 1997

References
  1. ":: KHC Dragons ::". Retrieved 2015-02-01.
  2. "KHC Dragons - Twitter". Retrieved 2015-02-01.
  3. "Championnat de Belgique de hockey - Competitions". Retrieved 2015-02-01.
  4. "Club detail Dragons dames heren". Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  5. "Club detail Dragons dames". Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  6. "O'Donoghue and Good continue Dragons' Irish connection". ehlhockey.tv. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  7. "Shimmins set to breathe fire with Dragons next season". www.hookhockey.com. 13 June 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  8. "Beatty, Lloyd and Carey set for foreign pastures". www.hookhockey.com. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
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