NIJMEGEN, Netherlands – The Nijmegen Devils capped a fine 2010 season by sweeping the Tilburg Trappers in three games to win the Dutch Eredivisie title.

The title is Nijmegen’s first under their new name Devils and their ninth in history. The team coached by former national team player Chris Eimers won the regular season, but found itself on the brink of elimination in the semi-finals trailing 0-2 against the Eaters Geleen in a best-of-five. With the series tied after four games, Nijmegen won Game 5 on home ice with a narrow 1-0 victory thanks to a third period Brad Smulders goal.

In the final the Nijmegen Devils met the Tilburg Trappers, who had eliminated reigning champion HYS The Hague in five games. After winning the first two games convincingly (5-1, 6-3), Nijmegen could celebrate the title after a 5-4 home win in the third game. For Tilburg it meant the second straight year they had to settle for silver.

Phil Aucoin and Doug Orr led Nijmegen in scoring in the playoffs with 18 and 16 points respectively from ten games. Tiburg’s Daryl Bat won the overall scoring title with 53 assists and 81 points in 39 games.

“As a player I had to wait 13 years before I could lift the cup, as a coach I only had to wait two years,” coach Eimers said. For Nijmegen defenceman Nick de Jong it was the third title won when playing for Nijmegen. Each for a different organization though (1999 Tigers, 2006 Emperors, 2010 Devils).

Victorious Chiefs of Belgium

LEUVEN, Belgium – For just the second time in history Leuven’s ice hockey pride, the Chiefs, can name themselves the Belgian champions. The Belgian Federation, one of the founders of the International Ice Hockey Federation, hosted a five-team championship this year. HYC Herentals and IHC Leuven came out on top and played a thrilling best-of-seven final series.

Three of the first four games in the series were decided in overtime. Leuven won game two and four on home ice (3-2 OT and 4-3 OT) while Herentals did the same in their home games (5-4 and 7-6 OT). The first game of the series played in Herentals was hampered by rain showers which almost turned the open ice rink into a swimming pool. There was no rain in game three, but it took almost 75 minutes until Sean Flinn scored the game winning goal.

The Chiefs of Leuven then got their big scalp defeating their opponents 6-1 away from home in game five. Two goals in the final minute of game six by Vincent Camelbeeck and Vadim Geysbreghs broke the deadlock between both teams and sent the IHC Leuven faithfuls occupy the ice after the 5-3 victory.

JOERI LOONEN


The Leuven Chiefs won their second Belgium title. Photo: Kurt Tops