In Toruń: Grammarians HC made an early statement of intent on the opening day of the EuroHockey Club Challenge II Men 2026 in Toruń, taking a hard-fought 3–2 win over HC Šiauliai to go top of Pool B after the first round of fixtures. Their clinical edge in key moments proved decisive, with a balanced scoring contribution underpinning the result. In the same pool, a remarkable contest saw Zurrieq Wolves Hotsticks and Soroksári HC play out a thrilling 5–5 draw, underlining the attacking quality already on display in the competition.
Pool A began with just a single completed fixture in the early stages, as Swansea HC imposed themselves with a commanding performance against Valhalla Landhockey Club, racing into a multi-goal lead before the match completed. The Welsh side showed sharp attacking patterns and defensive control, setting the tone ahead of the remaining pool matches, while KS Pomorzanin Toruń and Eagles HC were still to get their campaigns underway later in the day. Final score 9-0 for Swansea.
With a full round-robin format in each pool leading into classification matches on the final day, the opening results have already set up a finely balanced race for the semi-final places. As teams look to secure top-two finishes in their respective groups, every point and goal difference will carry significant weight over the coming days, with the Toruń crowd set for an intense and closely contested run to the finals.
Check out the live scores and pool rankings:
| EuroHockey Club Challenge II Men 2026 | 21 – 24 May 2026 | Toruń, Poland |
In Vilnius: In Pool A of the EuroHockey Club Challenge III Men 2026 in Vilnius opened with a pivotal early result as Hockey Team 85 edged FHC Slavia 1921 2–1. The Finnish side showed strong composure in a tight contest to secure the first win of the pool, immediately putting pressure on their rivals in what is a compact three‑team group that also includes Mortensrud‑Aker SK.
With only three teams involved, every fixture carries heightened importance in Pool A, meaning Slavia now face a crucial response in their remaining matches, while Mortensrud‑Aker SK will look to enter the competition strongly when they take on both sides. The format ensures there is little margin for error, with each result having a direct impact on qualification for the final stages.
Pool B features a broader and highly competitive four‑team lineup, with Warriors HC, HC The Wolves, HK Lipovci and hosts Sostinės Žuvėdra all battling for two progression places. The opening round of fixtures laid the foundation for what promises to be an intense group, with multiple head‑to‑head clashes scheduled in quick succession across the round‑robin phase.
Across both pools, the tournament in Vilnius is already shaping into a closely contested competition, combining the intensity of short round‑robin formats with high stakes in every fixture. With classification matches and finals to follow the pool stages, early momentum—such as HT85’s opening win—could prove decisive as teams chase silverware in Lithuania.
Check out the live scores and pool rankings:
| EuroHockey Club Challenge III Men 2026 | 21 – 24 May 2026 | Vilnius, Lithuania |
