Seven years later, the amounts have been seriously revised downwards, but the formula remains quite similar. During this sixth edition, each franchise plays 12 matches in the group stage between December 28 and February 1. Each team is made up of eight foreigners and 16 Indians. Coaches will have to find a group dynamic in record time. “With Nicolas Poncelet, we arrive in India on December 18explains the most highly rated Red Lion this year, Victor Wegnez. We start with a week of training in Chandigarh. Then we will play all our matches in Rourkela except two in Ranchi. The new formula no longer provides for traveling as at the time. It’s a shame. For the organizations, the championship will be less burdensome without these trips. We will have 12 or 14 matches to play in a month! I’m expecting champagne hockey. Individual actions will be frequent. The teams will focus on the offensive while forgetting the structure a little.”
gullI will earn in six weeks what I earn in two years with the Red Lions.”
Victor Wegnez is eagerly awaited in his Soorma team which spent 43,000 euros, the Belgian record for the 2025 edition. “I will earn in six weeks what I earn in two years with the Red Lions. Such a sum cannot be refused. It will allow me to invest. But, I would have left for 10,000 euros without any problem. I will have an experience crazy on a human level too.continues the one who is recovering from kidney surgery. He will play alongside stars like Vanasch, Poncelet, Hayward (Aus), Della Torre (Arg, Dragons player), Cassiem (AfS), Keenan (Arg) and Bhurkardy (PB) without forgetting the most bankable player in the championship: Harmanpreet Singh bought for 78,000 euros.
As for the Red Lions staff, we have issued the authorizations to experience this crazy adventure. Shane McLeod will meet everyone when he leaves on February 9 for the training camp in Argentina (Pro League). “We will miss January training in Belgium, but we will work on our condition with a match every two or three days. I will go to India without the Red Lions staff to help me. I will discover this hockey country differently with real visits.”
The most bankable Belgian duo this year? Wegnez with 43,000 euros and Englebert with 17,500 euros.
In Soorma, the Watducks player will also have a well-known staff. His T1 is none other than… Jeroen Baart, the current T2 of the Red Panthers and T1 of the gentlemen of the Dragons. “He will be assisted by Michael Cosma who left Belgium for India.”
First edition for ladies
The big news comes from the women’s section. For the first time in its history, the ‘HIL’ is hosting a women’s championship made up of four teams. Among the Belgians present, we find Elodie Picard, Lotte Englebert, Emma Puvrez and… Stéphanie De Groof. The Panthers duo Puvrez-Picard finds itself at the Delhi SG Pipers just like the Dragons player Stéphanie De Groof. The former Red Panthers will reunite with a former Dragons coach, Dave Smolenaars. This explains it.
Emma Pouvrez, drafted for 10,000 euros, will discover India at… 27 years old. “It’s crazy, but I’ve never been to India”tells us the one who will join the ‘HIL’ on December 29.
Lotte Englebert, the star of the Belgian national team, was bought for 17,500 euros, the Belgian women’s record. She will play in Soorma and will mainly play in Ranchi. She hopes to play the eight matches that lead to the title. “I would have left for 10,000 euros”said Lotte Englebert. “I am flattered by this auction. The sporting project speaks well to me. We have one month to build a team with sixteen Indians and eight foreigners. We will play in crazy stadiums. We will live with internationals in the country of hockey”concludes the one who will land there on January 1st.
As with the Red Lions, the Red Panthers will miss January training, but they will all be on the flight to Argentina on February 9. With phenomenal experience to boot.
