Georgia hosts a women’s EuroHockey Indoor club competition for the first time as the Challenge I comes to Tbilisi this weekend, an event featuring five teams.
The format sees the sides all play in an initial round-robin group, all hoping to make it into the top two who will contest the final on Sunday. The winner of the final will earn promotion for their country for 2027.
Meet the competing teams here:
KPH Rača (SVK)
KPH Rača arrives as the long‑established powerhouse of Slovak indoor hockey, having claimed the national title almost every year in recent seasons, including first place in the 2025/26 indoor league. Their squad blends significant international experience with promising young talent, as most of the group are regular members of the Slovak national team.
In goal, Daniela Šutovská provides stability and leadership while the defensive structure is anchored by internationals Dominika Chebenová, Lenka Horáčková and Bianka Hušková.
Going forward, Lenka Kramplová and Natália Fondrková are expected to carry the scoring threat. One of the rising talents to watch is Karolína Vyskočová who finished as the team’s top scorer at their most recent European club appearance.
Two newcomers Lia Leffers and Tereza Smatanová are set to make their debuts at this level, adding further depth to the squad.
Rača’s preparation has come through a full indoor season of regular matches and strong team cohesion, supported by national team activities and several weekend training camps.
“We have a team with a lot of international experience, but also exciting young players,” says Matúš Parajka. “Our focus is on playing fast, disciplined hockey and competing with confidence and as a team against every opponent.”
Hokej Klub Zelina (CRO)
Eight‑time Croatian champions, Hokej Klub Zelina return to European competition after lifting the national indoor title again in 2024/25. Long recognised as one of Croatia’s leading indoor clubs, they travel with a blend of experience, speed and tactical organisation.
Central to their team is Croatian international Lucija Nizek who brings over 50 caps and serves as a key playmaker. She is supported by the pace and technical quality of Lucija Buzjak as well as the reliability of Helena Buzjak, who provides structure and composure across the pitch. In attack, Nika Krkač offers a natural scoring instinct.
Zelina’s preparation has taken place throughout the domestic indoor season, supported by regular training sessions and targeted work on transitions, defensive structure and penalty corners. As an amateur club balancing hockey with school and work, they highlight their motivation and excitement for the European stage.
Coach Mario Ilinović says: “We are aware that very strong competition awaits us. Our main goal is promotion to Division B, but above all we want to play every match at a good level and represent Croatian hockey in the best possible way.”
Captain Nizek adds:“It is a great honour for us to take part in this tournament. Our objective is Division B. We are not coming only to participate; we want to fight for every point and gain valuable international experience.”
Zelina field three Buzjak sisters: Magdalena, Lucija and Helena. For Magdalena, this will be her first appearance in senior European club competition.
Trondheim LHK (NOR)
Trondheim LHK represent a unique model in Norwegian indoor hockey. With no domestic women’s league and not enough players in individual clubs to form a standalone squad, Norway’s female players regularly compete in the men’s league for match practice.
Three clubs combine to form Trondheim LHK, the banner under which Norway’s women compete internationally and it is a multi-cultural group with German, New Zealand, the Netherlands and Lithuania among the nationalities in their panel.
The squad first entered the European stage last year, then playing as Sagene IF, winning the Challenge II tournament on Norway’s debut appearance. The core group travelling this year has played together for nearly two seasons, maintaining cohesion through shared training weekends, friendly tournaments and mixed‑league matches.
Several players bring significant experience from previous European campaigns, contributing technical composure, tactical knowledge and resilience. Above all, the team’s identity is built on collective effort and adaptability.
As team leader Jimena Val Gora summarises: “Everything we achieve comes from extra effort: mixed league matches, shared training weekends, and a lot of dedication.”
Trondheim LHK enter the competition as a united and hardworking group shaped by the unique challenges of the Norwegian indoor landscape.
Ukimerioni Kutaisi (GEO)
Hosts Ukimerioni Kutaisi (pictured above) arrive as the reigning champions of Georgia and are on course to retain their national indoor crown. This year marks an important moment for the club and for Georgian hockey, as they welcome European indoor hockey to the country for the first time.
Their squad brings together Georgian, Turkish and Ukrainian players, with preparations focused heavily on showcasing their best hockey in front of a home crowd.
Among their standout young talents are Sıla Aleyna Çelebi, Nilay Öztürk, Aleyna Satılmış and rising Georgian star Mari Bladadze, who captains the team.
Head coach and club president Avtandil Tevdoradze extends a warm greeting to visiting teams: “Gamarjoba—and good luck to all. Ts’armat’ebebi.”
HC Copenhagen (DEN)
HC Copenhagen are playing in Challenge I for the fifth successive year having finished in third place in both 2024 and 2025.
Indeed, they only missed out on promotion by one goal as their 5-4 loss to Iris Hockey Lambersart denied them second when a draw would have seen them move up.
Theirs is also a multi-cultural squad with members from Argentina, Germany, the Netherlands and USA but they will miss Matilde Christensen who was their top scorer a year ago in Vienna, a title she picked up at indoor club tournaments in 2019, 2020 and 2022.
