Twice a year the hockey world turns to the EHL, the Euro Hockey League, celebrating the best of club hockey. Some will tell you when the EHL replaced the standard European club competition it was the development of the way the game was presented that made the difference. Some will tell you the naming of the rules it's known for – your passing yourself to the top of that list – makes it something special. They may all be fine, but I'm here to remind you of the foundation on which all of this is built that hasn't changed… Club hockey is what makes it special!
Because in Europe sports are not just a product of the entertainment industry. It's not just a show made to please the masses… Sports, hockey and our clubs are a way of life, a town where we raise our children. While the EHL brings us the best of club hockey. Let's remember that most of the players are not professionals. They are students preparing for their careers or young professionals combining their sport with their work and family life. With the exception of a few, the short-lived full-time professional hockey players, they all know the job will be short-lived and not one that will pay bills for the rest of their lives. But for many it becomes a way of life… Our group is where we meet our friends, often our partners in life or business. It's where we raise our children and share life with family and friends… That's what makes our club life, our club hockey special. That's what we celebrate when we go and congratulate our EHL teams…
This also means that it's not just about the top teams playing in the EHL's biggest event. They will certainly get huge crowds filling the stadium. But it means it's also about the EHL Hockey ID festival at the same venue this Sunday. It's about an EHL Under 14 event at the same venue at the same time. It is also about the event for U19 teams organized by EHCO at the same place at the same time. All of these events bring our clubs together and celebrate club hockey as the foundation of our sport.
EHCO asked other teams at their event to tell us why they love hockey, what they expect from their EHCO cup but also who might win the EHL?
