Soorma Hockey Club is halfway through Phase 1 of the Men’s Hero Hockey India League at the renowned Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela. They are just two points behind the joint leaders, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers and Tamil Nadu Dragons, after four matches. With the second half of Phase 1 starting tomorrow, Soorma will look to maintain their strong form, beginning with a clash against Hyderabad Toofans.
Soorma has earned seven points so far, thanks to one outright win over Vedanta Kalinga Lancers and two penalty shootout victories against Tamil Nadu Dragons and Delhi SG Pipers.
Reflecting on the team’s performances, Head Coach Jeroen Baart said, “We’ve shown great resilience. While we haven’t always started well, we’ve managed to fight back and push games to the finish line. It’s a valuable habit to keep battling until the last minute. However, we need to improve our starts and play consistently for the full duration. I’m pleased with our endings and hope we continue to pick up points.”
In their last game against Delhi SG Pipers, Soorma staged a dramatic comeback after trailing by two goals in the final quarter. Captain Harmanpreet Singh’s two brilliant drag flicks leveled the score, and goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch’s heroics in the penalty shootout secured them a bonus point.
Commenting on their slow starts, Jeroen said, “It’s not a deliberate strategy. We aim to perform well throughout the game, but sometimes things don’t go as planned, and the opposition adjusts too. Still, I’m proud of our determination in second halves, which has taken us to third place with seven points. Against Hyderabad Toofans, we need to deliver a strong performance again.”
The Hyderabad Toofans, who have one win and a penalty shootout victory, are just two points behind Soorma. Australian forward Tim Brand has scored twice, while the team also features Gonzalo Peillat, one of the world’s top drag flickers.
“We played a practice match against them before the league began, but that was more about focusing on ourselves. They have quality players like Peillat, but we trust Vincent Vanasch in goal to make a difference for us. Our focus remains on our own performance,” Jeroen explained.
He also provided an update on Victor Wegnez’s recovery. “Victor is close to returning, but we’re being cautious. He’s a key player for us, and we’re hopeful to have him back soon,” Jeroen concluded.