Saturday, February 17th 2018 was the last day of National Try-Out Denmark. Attendees, some of their parents as well as EHA staff have said bye to each other in little Swedish town Tyringe and took the trip home – everyone in own direction – after 6 days long event full of ice hockey practices, games and much more.
3 ½ days of ice hockey in Vojens, Denmark
Program of this Try-Out started on Monday, February 12th in beautiful SE Arena in Vojens, Denmark. Couple of EHA events took place in this arena within 2017 and that’s why EHA staff and staff of SE Arena more-less knew each-other and it made all practical cooperation even easier.
Attendees got 2-phase practice on- and off the ice daily from Monday through Thursday in accordance to EHA’s standards. And we can say, that none of in all 16 attendees, neither new aspirants or present EHA players was surprised or shocked, as they already knew, what these standards are. That made it even easier for 5 EHA coaches to work with boys really effective.
During 3 ½ days in Vojens, head coaches Lukáš Hökl (Czech republic) and Daniel Vatne (Norway), assisting coach Miloslav Topol (Czech republic) together with goalie head coach David Holub (Czech republic) and assisting goalie coach Stig Hamre (Norway) prepared for attendees: 7 on-ice sessions, 6 off-ice sessions and 3 theory and analysis sessions. Beside those there was a room for attendees to get couple of relaxing hours in swimming pool too.
After the lunch on Thursday, February 15th, EHA’s National Try-Out left Vojens and moved east, toward Sweden.
Here it is a right place to say thanks to all personnel of SE Arena in Vojens for all their help and support, especially Mrs. Birte Holm Hansen and Mr. Thomas Biel. Special thanks goes also to Mrs. Mona Holm for taking care of kids and EHA staff’s meals during our stay in Vojens.
Friendly game: EHA vs. Frosta Hockey (Sweden)
Attendees together with parents of some of them as well as EHA staff took app. 350 km long trip through Denmark and Sweden and reached the town Höör (Sweden) Thursday evening. There was only time to quick hello and welcome from representatives of the home club – Frosta Hockey, before the friendly game started.
The game was played in high tempo and all players on the ice proved, that they love the game and are really able to entertain the audience – even they were only about 12 years old. Frosta Hockey called some reinforcements in for this game, which made it even more beautiful, but did not prevent EHA Try-Out team to win at last by 7:6.
After the game, only thing there was left to do was to say farewell to ice rink in Höör and Frosta Hockey team, and move on to another Swedish town – Tyringe. Our thanks goes to whole team around Frosta Hockey and especially to Mr. Martin Brolin, who made this great ice hockey evening possible.
Practice in Sweden, game in Denmark
Friday morning started with late breakfast in Tyringe Kurhotel, which gave roof over the head for all attendees, parents and EHA staff during our stay in Sweden.
Tyringe is a nice little town and Ice Arena is – as anything else – very close to the hotel, or anything :-). Players and coaches got on the ice just before the noon for light practice after the game day before – and before the evening friendly game in Hvidovre, Denmark. After practice and lunch in local pizzeria we hit the road again – this time back to Denmark.
EHA team arrived to Hvidovre (Denmark) just about two hours before the game start. Home team and everyone around the home team have prepared for this friendly game well and was a perfect host. Let us especially thank to Mr. Allan Juhl Petersen and Mrs. Elina Sørensen from Hvidovre IK for that.
As day before – both teams on the ice shown great ice hockey and the game was really a positive experience for all attending players – even the weakened EHA team lost this game 4:6. Weakened, because some of the players needed to leave the team and take care of their obligations in home clubs and weakened, because of virus attack affecting nearly everyone in the team and staff too. Taking this to consideration, then EHA’s two complete lines shown nearly heroic performance against full-powered hosting team. 🙂 And that was not all, as two additional players had to left the team right after this game – so expectations for coming friendly game in Sweden the next day were not high.
Farewell in Tyringe
Saturday morning was more-less the copy of the morning of the day before – late breakfast at Tyringe Kurhotel and than Tyringe Ice Arena. Just this time it wasn’t a practice, but last friendly game of this National Try-Out. As hosts of previous two friendly games, also Tyringe Hockey and their coach Carl Persson have made it a very pleasant experience to play the ice hockey game. This time it was only 7 players in EHA’s team, but coaches of both teams together with players agreed on, that the game will be played. And played it was! Seven EHA players lost this game against complete hosting team 4:5, but could leave the rink with their heads up high, as it was a fantastic result under circumstances.
After the game there wasn’t much time to long farewells, as everybody needed to catch even the flight or ferry – and that’s why we just wished Goodluck to each other aware of, that we meet soon again.
Event in numbers…
Regarding the age of attendees, players and goalies: 2 players was born in 2004, 5 players in 2005 and 9 in 2006.
Geographically – home countries of players was represented like this: 9 players were from Denmark, 2 from Norway, 1 from Czech republic and 1 from U.S.A. 3 goalies came from Denmark, Norway and Slovenia.
You can find the full list of attendees and read more about this event on Event’s page.
SEE PHOTO GALLERIES
Find more photos on Facebook and Flickr.
Thanks to…
Partners and sponsors of European Hockey Academy’s National Try Out
