Dierickx playing for Swiss indoor squad

Another interesting point is that Dierickx was involved in the Swiss indoor league this season, making the travel at weekends to join the squad for games and focusing on personal training to keep him ship shape. He was successful at winning goalkeeper of the tournament for his efforts. And more than that, shows an interesting change in hockey players looking to make the most of opportunities to play abroad, even if for a change of pace and standard/level of exposure, due to changes in the game across the globe.

You can read more here, although might need Google translate to get a fuller picture!

http://okey.lalibre.be/fr/international-laurent-dierickx-meilleur-gardien-en-suisse.html?cmp_id=7&news_id=1151

Leroy another retiree at the end of the season

Manu Leroy will be joining the list of retiring goalkeepers at the end of the Belgian season, with the final games for the Euro Hockey League playoff places being his last ever with his club KHC Dragons. Leroy who had a break out season with Waterloo Ducks, impressing in the European tournament format, before making the squad list for the Belgian team for the London Olympic buildup and similar success with his new side Dragons in Europe. Given his ability in goal, as one of the few elite goalkeepers in Europe, and his crowd pleasing persona and charisma, he will surely be missed by goalkeeping critics/analysts and fans alike.

I for one am a big fan of his overall developed technical game and think he is one of the best around, proving himself at club level before drawing praise, the alternate way round rather than expected instant success from junior international involvement. And having been lucky enough to watch him play in person, when East Grinstead held the Euro Hockey League second qualifying round in 2012, it was a little shock news when I found out.

You can find out more about the news via EHL breaking the story here:

http://www.ehlhockey.tv/news/dragons-and-ducks-reach-the-belgian-national-finals

Leroy always had an 'air' about him and here he is roaming his area waiting to counter a through ball!

Gucasoff makes the switch to new P1 kit

With the new isoblox and D3O based updated version of TK kit reaching the hockey goalkeeping community and hitting the shelves, it's no surprise that TK sponsored goalkeepers will be making the switch. Whilst changing over right at the end of the season might be difficult for mere mortals (read that sarcastically!), those with the elite muscle memory to play at the highest levels should be able to make the change seamlessly, although it could have an impact on psychology and confidence levels. Jeremy Gucasoff seems to be the only one in the Belgian national league to have made the switch, using the kit in the playoffs for the Euro Hockey League in the last couple of matches for Racing Brussels.

Making the switch all apart from his lhp (left hand glove) though, so he obviously prefers the rebound levels of the TK plus glove:

Vanasch also switching to Brabo lhp

Another noticeable glove and brand switch is Belgian's number one Vincent Vanasch (of Waterloo Ducks) changing to a Brabo lhp from TK lhp, just as Romain Henet did, as posted yesterday. The Brabo lhp is theoretically lighter than the already light TK glove with potentially greater rebound qualities (although might need quantified results to prove that) and Vanasch has been using Brabo leg guards and kickers for quite some time now, having used TK foam for all; kickers, pads and gloves, previously, especially in action for Belgium U21's and with KHC Leuven at the time (link)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_GBeMaNW1Y&list=UUKwUPymQXTBcVrzdALJnsuw

And on a closer look, it seems as if very recently, he has made the switch to the Brabo rhp potentially (if I'm not mistaken, although knowing me I could be!!), with the slightly different but noticeable design used by Brabo, one of the original producers of the tube/blocking shape crossover.

Going by the very recent action clip posted yesterday, the larger surface area and black colour design is visible. This essentially would mean Vanasch is one of only a very few elite level goalkeepers at the highest levels of the game wearing full Brabo kit. Amsterdam's starter being one of the other main full Brabo foam users. No idea if Vanasch has full Brabo sponsorship but would make a lot of sense considering if so!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4lSCnWU2vc

Henet switches to Brabo LHP

Keeping apace with following the Belgian national league, it would also appear that there have been a few kit changes with some of the very best goalkeepers in Europe as well (personally I really rate Belgian's current crop of goalkeepers, but more on that some other time!). Leopold's starter Romain Henet, the incredibly young starter with Euro Hockey League experience (who also just happens to be pretty good; athletic, confident and with a strong technical basis), has made the switch from using TK gloves (both lhp and rhp) to using the Brabo lhp, which itself has incredible ping and rebound to it. This is interesting given the style and shape and design of the glove; the Brabo having an even thinner profile than the TK lhp, with soft foam used for incredible rebound, which against stingy shots at this level can have an impact on technique and confidence, as well as use. Whether this has anything to do with possible Brabo sponsorship, I have no idea, but could have an impact on his game, no matter how small the detail.

This is different to what he has been using over his development as a goalkeeper, as you can see in the following clip in EHL action:

Unfortunately I haven't been able to embed the difference, but you can see him in the white helmet and white dangler and Leopold strip black and white bar shirt, with the black Brabo lhp and red pads and kickers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4lSCnWU2vc