EuroHockey is greatly saddened to learn of the passing of Jons Hensel on Friday at the age of 75.

Jons will always be known in both EuroHockey and EHL circles as one of the visionary founding fathers of the Euro Hockey League of which he was the chairman until 2015.

He was subsequently bestowed with a EuroHockey President’s Award (pictured with Marijke Fleuren at its presentation) and current EHL chairman Peter Elders paid tribute to his impact.

“Beyond his formal role with the EHL, he was always extremely interested in the well-being of the tournament, its participants, its sponsors and all the many volunteers involved. His enthusiastic and welcoming smile and his many great ideas will be greatly missed.

“Jons will remain in the hearts of every person now or ever involved with the EHL and we all feel deep sympathy for his  wife Els who we have met at so many occasions.

“We hope Els will find somewhere the strength to continue and that she will – like us – remember the great memories of this true gentleman, host and friend.”

Outside his EuroHockey engagements, Jons was a key instigator for both his club AH&BC Amsterdam and for the Hoofdklasse in the Netherlands.

For Amsterdam, he served as an influential chairman of the club for 10 years, was a key player in the renovation of the Wagener Stadium  and a member of the Executive Board of the Amsterdam Sports Institutions.

In 2009, Jons Hensel was appointed Member of Merit by the KNHB in recognition of his significant contribution to the sport of hockey in the Netherlands and abroad.

For his social and sporting achievements, he was appointed Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau in 2010.