Five players destined for the EHL this season have been named on the shortlist for the 2024 FIH Stars awards announced this morning.
On the women’s shortlist are SCHC duo Yibbi Jansen and Xan de Waard from the all-conquering Dutch side who won Olympic gold and the FIH Pro League while Braxgata’s Stéphanie Vanden Borre gets her first nod. Should the latter win, she would be the first ever Belgian Red Panther to take the award.
All three are included in their club’s panels for next Easter’s EHL FINAL12.
On the men’s side, England’s Zach Wallace – who will play with HC Bloemendaal in the EHL KO16 next month – is on the shortlist of five players.
One of his opponents in the KO16, Real Club de Polo’s towering number one Luis Calzado, is on the men’s goalkeeper of the year shortlist.
The expert panel was provided access to match data from all international matches held in 2024, including test matches, the Pro League, FIH Hockey Nations Cups, FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers and the Olympic Games Paris 2024 before establishing the final list of nominees.
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The voting process is now open! National Associations – represented by their respective national teams’ captains and coaches -, fans, players, coaches, officials and media can register their vote until 11 October.
The votes of the Expert Panel count for 40% of the overall result. Those from National Associations count for a further 20%. The fans and other players (20%) as well as the media (20%) will make the remaining 40%.
Fans and players can cast their vote here.
Media can cast their vote here.