Pinoké to host next easter’s FINAL8

Pinoké will be the host club for the ABN AMRO EHL FINAL8 carnival next Easter where Europe’s men’s and women’s best clubs will be crowned.

As host, they will use their own facilities in the Amsterdamse Bos while they have secured the Wagener Stadium from April 6th to 10th, 2023 as the venue for all EHL matches.

It will be another first for the club in their debut year in the EHL as their men broke new ground to qualify for the first time last season and subsequently won through the KO16 in Hamburg last month.

Astrid Ventevogel, chair of Pinoké said of the honour of being awarded rights to host the event: “Pinoké is very pleased to be chosen as the host club for the FINAL8 of the EHL. This makes the journey even more enjoyable, from gaining a place in the playoffs in the Netherlands for the first time in history, right up to qualifying for the FINAL8 of the EHL. It is a lot of firsts.”

While it is Pinoké’s first time hosting the EHL, the club has recent experience of welcoming international tournaments in the Amsterdamse Bos. Their club was the venue for this summer’s EuroHockey ID Championships in July.

That event saw a large volunteer team come together, something the club expects will be the same next Easter.

Their proximity to the Wagener Stadium also allows them to avail of one of the world’s best-equipped hockey venues. It will mean a different entry/exit system and catering positions, showcasing Pinoké and their state of the art clubhouse and pitches. The ABN AMRO U14 EHL tournament will also be held on Pinoké’s pitches.

“We hope to replicate the atmosphere of the EHIDC which was held at Pinoké last summer, with the exciting hockey games from last season’s playoffs,” Ventevogal added.

EHL Chairman Hans-Erik Tuijt is delighted to see a new club successfully apply for hosting of the EHL.

“We are excited by this unique bid from Pinoké to host the EHL FINAL8. We have seen they are a club on the rise, not just in terms of hockey performance, but around the pitch. 

“Last season, they organised some fabulous events in the Dutch playoffs with thousands coming to their venue, made possible by their outstanding volunteers. We look forward to seeing this replicated next Easter.”

EHF President Marijke Fleuren added: “ Pinoké is a new host for EHL but we at the EHF know very well how happy and warm a welcome they offer to all visitors.

“We organised our European ID Hockey Championships at Pinoké last July. There is only one word to describe how the atmosphere was: Fabulous! I are sure now another audience from the rest of Europe will soon know this feeling!”

The draw for the men’s and women’s EHL FINAL8 will be made on December 14th with tickets going on sale and the fixture list announced in due course.