Men’s EuroHockey Indoor Club Challenge I (Sofia, Bulgaria)
HC Bra completed a perfect weekend as their 5-3 win over Lithuania’s Širvintos saw them take gold in Sofia with a five from five record.
Indeed, it was a unique achievement over the indoor weekend as the only club to end with a 100% record from the five tournaments played across Europe.
It saw them jump above fellow promoted side Inverleith in the final standings with Italy and Scotland assured of a place in the EuroHockey Indoor Club trophy for 2027.
Looking back on the weekend, Priyesh Bhana was thrilled with his side’s immaculate showing.
“A dominating performance defined by precision and control from start to finish, HC Bra once again proved that they are not just competing in Europe, but winning,” he said.
“In a historic indoor season winning the Italian Championship last week, and crowned by this triumph at the EuroHockey Indoor Club Challenge I Men 2026, Bra showed why we stand among the very few Italian clubs capable of delivering major European results for their club, their city, and their country.”
The side is guided by leaders like Ukraine’s Andrii Koshelenko and former New Zealand international Bhana who are working to develop local Italian national team talent, taking the team to higher and higher levels on the continental stage.”
Pool D day three round-up
Inverleith eased to a 10-1 victory over KPH Rača to claim the remaining promotion place on offer in Sofia, Scotland joining Italy in moving up to the second tier for 2027.
Needing just a draw, they raced into a 5-0 lead with two goals from Charlie Jack and one each from Kyle Taylor, Keir Robb and Sam Hunt; the gap was eight by half-time and they went on to win by 10-1 in the final reckoning to move on up in style. It will see the country represented in the second tier once again after a two-year break.
For Bra, they needed to pick up a result to make sure of gold to go with the already confirmed promotion with they met Širvintos which they did via a 5-3 victory.
They raced into a two-goal lead through Simone Raimo and Nicholas Chiesa and were 4-1 up at half-time through Dario Saoncella and Nicola Missaglia.
Širvintos did rally in the second half to get back to 4-3 but Andrii Koshelenko’s late goal copper-fastened their goal medal. For Bra, it will end an eight-year spell outside of the top two divisions for Italian clubs.
Pool C
Cardiff & Met and Triglav Predanovci shared a tense 1-1 draw in the opening game to leave the Welsh side with an anxious wait to see whether they would stay up or not.
Mitja Dšuban gave Triglav the lead just before the end of Q3 before Cardiff captain Matty George equalised but they could not summon anything more. It meant they had to wait to see if hosts FHC Slavia 1921 would grab a result to overhaul them.
And so it turned out with the very last throw of the dice for the Bulgarian side against Sorokári. They needed a losing bonus point and it came in the last seconds from Radoslav Grozkov – while they lost 6-4, that goal was all important as it recorded the bonus required.
Early on, Slavia tore into a 3-1 lead but their Hungarian opponent raced back with three goals in quick succession before half-time for a 4-3 lead.
And they looked to have broken the Slavia hearts when Bence Szigeti made it 6-3 with less than 60 seconds remaining before Grozkov got the dramatic late strike.
Player of the tournament: Andrii Koshelenko (HC Bra)
Goalkeeper of the tournament: Greg Mackenzie (Inverleith HC)
Leading goalscorers: Andrii Koshelenko (HC Bra); Keir Robb (Inverleith HC) – 12 goals each
Final rankings
- HC Bra (ITA)
- Inverleith HC (SCO)
- KPH Rača (SVK)
- Širvintos Sports Club (LTU)
- Soroksári HC (HUN)
- HK Triglav Predanovci (SLO)
- FHC Slavia 1921 (BUL)
- Cardiff & Met (WAL)
