# KHC Dragons

Koninklijke Hockey Club Dragons, also known as KHC Dragons or simply Dragons, is a Belgian professional field hockey club based in Brasschaat, Antwerp Province. The club was founded in 1946. Since the end of the eighties the club competes in Belgium's first tier, Honour Division.

## History

HC Dragons were founded on the 26th of October 1946 at Café Royal in Berchem. With only 11 members the club played recreational hockey in the Belgian lower divisions.
Before moving in 1961 to the present location in Brasschaat the club played on different fields around Antwerp. The club's turning point came in 1981 when Jacques Daems became the president of the club. It was his ambition that the club should be one of the best in Belgium. A few years later the club installed its first artificial turf and promoted in 1988 to the Honour Division. A year later the women's team promoted to the Honour Division as well.
In 1996 the club celebrated its 50th anniversary and changed its name to Koninklijke Hockey Club Dragons (Royal Hockey Club Dragons). Meanwhile, the club installed its second artificial turf and the club won its first silverware when the women's team won in 1994 the Belgian double.
Ather the first successes with the women's team, the men's team won its first championship in 1997. Ever since both Dragons men and women are considered Belgian top teams.
Together with the rise of Belgian hockey, Dragons flourished as well at the European level. After winning its 6th national title in 2010 Dragons participated for the first time in the Euro Hockey League. Beating the reigning UHC Hamburg. One year later Dragons won the Bronze medal and played the EHL final 2013.
Besides the successes, the club kept growing in numbers and added a third artificial turf in 2013. In 2015 Dragons was the host of the World League Semi-Final and added even a fourth field. At the moment KHC Dragons count 1500 members and are the biggest hockey club in Belgium.

## Pronunciation

In English communication, the club is often pronounced in an English manner. Officially though, the club has to be pronounced in the French way (drʁagõ) without 's'.
Therefore, the Dragons (De Draken) is a nickname for the players. (sometimes female players are referred to as Dragonettes).

## Players
### Current squad
#### Men's squad

    As of 2021–22
Head coach: Dennis Dijkshoorn
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | MF | BEL | Victor Foubert |
| 2 | GK | BEL | Loic Van Doren |
| 4 | MF | BEL | Lucas Putters |
| 5 | DF | BEL | Max Lootens |
| 7 | MF | BEL | Robbert Rubens |
| 8 | GK | BEL | Vincent Schroyen |
| 9 | DF | BEL | Mathew Cobbaert |
| 10 | FW | ARG | Nicolás Della Torre |
| 11 | FW | BEL | Florent Van Aubel |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 12 | DF | BEL | Timothy Luyten |
| 13 | MF | BEL | Simon Gougnard |
| 17 | DF | BEL | Sebastiaan Geers |
| 19 | MF | BEL | Félix Denayer (Captain) |
| 20 | DF | BEL | Robert Snoeck |
| 21 | GK | BEL | Frédréric Beeckman |
| 22 | FW | ARG | Lucas Martínez |
| 23 | FW | BEL | Henri Raes |
| 27 | DF | IRE | Conor Harte |

#### Women's squad

    As of 2021–22
Head coach: Justus Robert
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | BEL | Marie Goethals De Mude |
| 2 | GK | NED | Roos Knijff |
| 3 | MF | ARG | Rocio Emme |
| 5 | DF | BEL | Stephanie De Groof (Captain) |
| 7 | DF | BEL | Ophélie Marien |
| 8 | MF | GER | Anabel Herzsprung |
| 9 | MF | NED | Imke Verstraeten |
| 10 | FW | NED | Fleur Broers |
| 11 | MF | NED | Valerie Magis |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 12 | MF | BEL | Fleur Verboven |
| 14 | FW | BEL | Manon Simons |
| 15 | FW | BEL | Abigail Raye |
| 17 | MF | BEL | Delphine Marien |
| 18 | FW | BEL | Margaux Struyf |
| 23 | MF | ARG | Jimena Cedrés |
| 24 | DF | BEL | Carolien Jakus |
| 25 | DF | URU | Manuela Vilar del Valle |

### Notable players
#### Men's internationals
##### Belgium

| Thomas Briels Félix Denayer Loïck Luypaert Xavier Reckinger | Jeffrey Thys Florent van Aubel Arthur Van Doren Victor Wegnez |

##### Ireland

| Joe Brennan Stephen Butler Kyle Good Eugene Magee Geoff McCabe | Shane O'Donoghue Graham Shaw Kirk Shimmins Michael Watt |
Source:

#### Women's internationals
##### Belgium

* Louise Cavenaile
* Stephanie De Groof

##### Ireland

* Emily Beatty
* Kate Lloyd
* Shirley McCay

##### Italy

* Chiara Tiddi
Source:

## Honours
### Men
#### Belgian Hockey League

* Winners (12): 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2020–21

#### Euro Hockey League

* Runners-up (1): 2012–13

#### EuroHockey Club Trophy

* Winners (1): 2001
* Runners-up (1): 1998

#### EuroHockey Cup Winners Trophy

* Winners (2): 2003, 2005

#### Belgian Cup

* Winners (3): 1993, 2002, 2005

#### Belgian Indoor Championship

* Winners (1): 1999

### Women
#### Belgian Hockey League

* Winners (1): 1993–94

#### EuroHockey Club Trophy

* Winners (1): 2022

#### Belgian Cup

* Winners (2): 1994, 2005
Belgian Indoor Championship
* Winners (1): 1997