One of the longest continuous run in the men’s Euro Hockey League will come to an end next season as Rot-Weiss Köln missed out on a place in the German final four.

They have played in the past 12 editions of the competition, level with Poland’s WKS Grunwald Poznan and one behind Dinamo Kazan’s 13-year run.

Rot-Weiss were unable to turn the tide against Crefelder HTC, ending their three-year reign as national champions as they lost the first two of their best-of-three quarter-final.

In Saturday’s game two, Rot-Weiss made a dream start as Tom Grambusch’s penalty corner and a Michel Struthoff goal built a 2-0 lead in the first 12 minutes.

But Crefeld defended brilliantly with former Rot-Weiss keeper Joshua Onyekwue Nnjaji in inspired form – a hero in the first leg – producing similar heroics.

And star man Niklas Wellen forced their way back into the contest with a first goal in the 42nd minute and he equalised in the 55th minute from a corner.

That sent the game to a shoot-out where Crefeld prevailed with Wellen, Martin Ignacio Ferreiro and Linus Michler all scoring while Rot-Weiss failed to score.

It earned them a place at next weekend’s final four in Bonn where they will meet Mannheimer HC, the only side from the regular season’s top four to make it through.

MHC landed a huge 10-3 win over Harvestehuder THC to make it two wins from two from their series.

The other half saw Hamburger Polo club beat city rivals UHC 5-1 while Der Club an der Alster defeated Uhlenhorst Mülheim in game three.

Alster had won the first leg before losing the Saturday second leg in a shoot-out. It sent it to a decisive third game which Uhlenhorst were 1-0 up with seven minutes to go.

But Anton Boeckel and Fred Newbold struck within two minutes of each other to see Alster grab a 2-1 win.

Royal Léopold’s men have made a couple of eye-catching signings with Nelson Onana and Jose Basterra adding even more firepower to their front lines.

They join the Belgian side who won the Ion Hockey League’s men’s regular season but came unstuck in the playoff semi-finals at the hands of eventual champions Gantoise.

Onana switches to the club after six seasons at Braxgata during which time he has established himself in the Red Lions side.  He has signed a three-year contract

Basterra, meanwhile, is the 27-year-old star man  from Club de Campo, frequently topping their goalscoring charts as he helped the club win two Spanish championships and a King’s Cup. His deal is for two years with an option for two further seasons.

Coach Agustin Corradini said of the additions:“I am delighted to welcome Nelson and José to our project. Nelson and José are two very experienced young players with enormous talent but also with an extraordinary fighting spirit .

“Nelson studies medicine and José works at Deloitte. They will be keen to demonstrate that a career in club and national team is compatible with studies or work. They will bring their talent and warrior spirit to our core.”

Departing this summer, EHL bronze medalists in 2021, Tom Degroote and Lewis Eaton confirmed they will move on to Uccle for next season.

Both played in the EHL in 2018, 2021 and 2023 with Léo while both also appeared in 2016, Eaton with Léo, Degroote with Leuven.

Barry Middleton has been confirmed as the new head coach of Surbiton’s men following an 11-year spell at Holcombe, taking on the reins after Mark Pearn stepped down recently.

The EuroHockey Hall of Famer has a glittering CV as a player and, recently, as a player-coach, helping Holcombe finish as runners-up in the England in 2023.

He also has extensive experience working with young, up-and-coming players in his role as GB Elite Development Programme Assistant Coach, while his own achievements as a player are well documented, having made 432 international appearances, competed at four Olympics and led England and GB sides as captain, including to the European title in 2009.

He will be Head Coach of the men’s firsts as well as leading a new performance programme to support the development of men’s and women’s first team players and other young talent at the club.

In a post on the Surbiton website, the club’s board state: “We are looking forward to seeing Barry lead the Men’s 1s and the club’s evolving performance programme as we move into next season.

“His playing and coaching credentials are superb, and his appointment will bring exciting opportunities for performance players at Surbiton to evolve their own games as well supporting the club’s ongoing ambitions for team success at Premier Division and European level.”

Middleton is also looking forward to the new challenge: “I am delighted to be joining Surbiton HC at a time when there are so many exciting developments happening at the club.

“I thank Holcombe for 11 great years, but now is the time to move on with a young family changing my priorities in life. I am really looking forward to joining the club, getting started with the team and meeting the challenges ahead.”

Surbiton will play in the Euro Hockey League KO16 early in the 2024/25 season.

Lille MHC won the French men’s national title and, with it, a spot at next season’s EHL KO16 as they won a dramatic shoot-out over CAM92.

Both won their semi-finals 2-1 on Saturday with Lille edging out Racing Club de France after Montrouge beat Saint Germain.

In the decider, the hosts went in front when Brieuc Delemazure whipped in a perfect ball into the circle for Arthur Golliot to redirect into the net for a fifth minute lead.

CAM92 were back level, though, at half-time when Louis Poupée dragged in his 27th goal of the season from a penalty corner for 1-1.

And that is how it remained through to the final whistle despite a crazy closing minute in which Matteo Desgouillons saw an effort brilliantly saved off the line by Antonin Igau.

Lille, however, produced the perfect shoot-out with Jules Bournac, Desgouillons and Viktor Lockwood all scoring while Arthur Theiffry made three saves in a row for a 3-0 success.

On the women’s side, Cambrai were 3-1 winners in the final as they defeated Lille with Charlotte Querleu the inspiration.

She scored twice before half-time, once with a brilliant reverse-stick shot and then with a penalty corner sweep for 2-0.

Agustina Arista’s penalty stroke extended the lead further before Juliette Hannebicque-Leman gave Lille some hope with their only goal in the third quarter.

Gantoise’s women are Belgian champions for the fourth successive year as they won their final double-header over the weekend 5-3 on aggregate against Braxgata.

Ambre Ballenghien snapped up the opening goal of the weekend when Emilie Sinia’s shot was only half stopped, swooping low to knock the ball home.

Stephanie Vanden Borre levelled from a deflected corner but the first tie was settled from the penalty spot by Astrid Bonami.

Elena Sotgiu denied a second stroke in the third quarter in a busy second half but they did have their 3-1 lead after game one from a corner deflection.

That was augmented on Sunday when Fee Vanden Abeele’s rising shot made it in from the right of the circle.

Brax, however, fought back and were level in this tie courtesy of Astrid Vandermeiren. Any nerves, though, were quickly dispelled when Bonami got a key touch in front of the goalkeeper to make it 2-1 in the game and 5-2 overall.

Shaunda Ikegwuonu’s cracking backhand shot was academic as Gantoise had yet another title.

Both sides will play in the EHL FINAL12 next season.

Gantoise’s magnificent seven on Saturday meant they won the Belgian men’s national title at a canter, retaining the title in some style in Antwerp.

They were 4-0 up in the first leg with just 27 minutes gone with Romain Duvekot, Emile Esquelin (two) and François Goyet all cashing in.

They eventually raced away to a 7-1 victory with Timothée Clément filling his boots with a hat trick.

With a huge aggregate lead going into game two on Sunday, there was little jeopardy. Waterloo did show up well with Blaise Rogeau giving them the lead in Q2 only for Esquelin to equalise, continuing his dream weekend.

Sean Murray made it 2-1 – 9-2 on aggregate – before Gaëtan Dykmans and Rogeau’s second earned Waterloo a 3-2 win on the day but silver medals overall.

It means Gantoise will play in the EHL FINAL8 next Easter while Waterloo and Royal Léopold are destined for the KO16 in October.