Ninth place with perspective for Jong Oranje boys
The Dutch boys under 19 finished the EJK in Burgos, Bulgaria, in ninth place. The men of national coach Branko Mitrovic almost reached the quarter finals. In the cross-over against Montenegro, the Dutch Juniors only had to capitulate after penalties.
The Dutch Juniors won all three of their matches in Pool C of Division 2. The victories over Malta (15-8), France (15-11) and Turkey (16-9) ensured a cross-match against Montenegro, which had finished fourth in the very strong Pool A of Division 1 behind Spain, Hungary and Croatia.
The match against Montenegro was a real thriller. With the period scores of 2-1, 3-2 and 5-4, the Balkan residents took a comfortable lead with 10-7. However, the Dutch team did not give up easily. A penalty from Daan Bakker made it 10-8 and when Jorrit van der Weijden made the connecting goal with a long-range shot, the tension was back.
Two minutes before the end, the same Van der Weijden – again from outside the six-meter line – even made it 10-10. Montenegro did manage to make it 11-10, but captain Hugo Wouters forced a penalty shootout with a penalty. Unfortunately, the Netherlands still lost 5-4, but the game and the fighting spirit certainly offer perspective for the future.
In any case, after the loss against Montenegro, which would eventually win silver, ninth place was the only option. With two victories – against Bulgaria and Turkey again – the Dutch Juniors did what they had to do.
The Dutch under-19s played the EJK in Burgas with the following line-up: David de Vries (Het Ravijn), Edu van den Brom (De Ham), Zeppe Caboort (ZVL-1886), Ezra de Zwaan (ZVL-1886), Fabio Jukic (PSV), Imme van der Schaaf (UZSC), Jorrit van der Weijden (GZC Donk), Max Vercouteren (UZSC), Mila Spee (ZVL-1886), Rick Terlouw (GZC Donk), Chris van den Dobbelsteen (ZV De Zaan), Daan Bakker (ZV De Zaan), Pim Steenbrink (ZV De Zaan), Benjamin Oerlemans (Vouliagmeni, Greece) and Hugo Wouters (Het Ravijn). In addition to national coach Branko Mitrovic, the coaching staff consisted of assistant coaches Harry van der Meer and Sebastiaan Brands and physiotherapist Floris Hazenberg.
Characteristics of the Dutch Juniors in Burgos
Sunday 1 September, Pool C
Netherlands – Malta 15-8
Period scores: 3-2, 5-4, 3-1, 4-1
Goals Netherlands: Daan Bakker 6, Hugo Wouters 3, Imme van der Schaaf 2, Chris van den Dobbelsteen, Ezra de Zwaan, Fabio Jukic, David de Vries.
Monday 2 September, Pool C
France – Netherlands 11-15
Period scores: 2-4, 2-3, 4-4, 3-4
Goals Netherlands: Hugo Wouters 3, Chris van den Dobbelsteen 3, Rick Terlouw 2, David de Vries 2, Imme van der Schaaf 2, Fabio Jukic, Edu van den Brom, Benjamin Oerlemans.
Tuesday 3 September, Pool C
Netherlands – Turkey 16-9
Period scores: 4-3, 5-3, 4-2, 3-1
Goals Netherlands: Daan Bakker 3, Mila Spee 3, David de Vries 3, Chris van den Dobbelsteen 2, Imme van der Schaaf 2, Ezra de Zwaan, Max Vercouteren, Rick Terlouw.
Wednesday 4 September, cross-over
Montenegro – Netherlands 11-11 (16-15 after penalties)
Period scores: 2-1, 3-2, 5-4, 1-4 / 5-4
Goals Netherlands (incl. penalties): Daan Bakker 4, Hugo Wouters 4, Jorrit van der Weijden 3, Imme van der Schaaf 2, Edu van den Brom. Mila Spee.
Thursday 5 September, 9-12th place
Netherlands – Bulgaria 22-6
Period scores: 7-2, 6-0, 4-0, 5-4
Goals Netherlands: Daan Bakker 5, Imme van der Schaaf 5, Hugo Wouters 4, Mila Spee 2, Ezra de Zwaan 2, Rick Terlouw 2, Fabio Jukic, David de Vries.
Friday 6 September, 9/10th place
Netherlands – Turkey 12-10
Period scores: 4-3, 4-2, 1-1, 3-4
Goals Netherlands: Jorrit van der Weijden 3, Daan Bakker 2, Rick Terlouw 2, Chris van den Dobbelsteen 2, Imme van der Schaaf, David de Vries, Edu van den Brom.
Final score EJK
1. Croatia
2. Montenegro
3. Spain
4. Hungary
5. Germany
6. Italy
7. Serbia
8. Greece
9. Netherlands
10. Turkey
11. Romania
12. Bulgaria
13. France
14. Malta
15. Czech Republic
16. Slovenia
EJK sponsors
Participation in the EJK is made possible by the following sponsors: M.W. Schuring Interim Management & Advies, VIA Coaching & Training, G.M.O. Nederland B.V., Andy Hoepelman, Myreille Mijnals and Erik van den Brom, Van der Hoeven Installations, Zwembadvakanties.nl, Plus supermarket Erwin Kenter – Best, Fruitopjewerk.nl, Stichting 2CU, CERVA Benelux, Drukkerij van Wijk and many others.
