{{Infobox field hockey club | clubname = Dragons | image = KHC Dragons.png | imagesize = 180px | caption = | fullname = Koninklijke Hockey Club Dragons | nickname = The Reds, The Dragons | founded = {{Start date and age|1946|10|26|df=y}} | ground = The Mansion of Dragons, Brasschaat | capacity = | chairman = | owner = | coach = | members = | league = Men's Belgian Hockey League<br />Women's Belgian Hockey League | season = 2021–22 | position = Men: 7th<br />Women: 2nd | website = [http://www.dragons.be/ Club website] | kit_alt1 = | pattern_la1 = | pattern_b1 = _navyhorizontal | pattern_ra1 = | pattern_sh1 = | pattern_so1 = | leftarm1 = FF0000 | body1 = FF0000 | rightarm1 = FF0000 | shorts1 = 000080 | socks1 = 000080 | kit_alt2 = | pattern_la2 = _navyborder | pattern_b2 = _navyhorizontal | pattern_ra2 = _navyborder | pattern_sh2 = | pattern_so2 = | leftarm2 = ffffff | body2 = ffffff | rightarm2 = ffffff | shorts2 = 000080 | socks2 = ffffff }} '''Koninklijke Hockey Club Dragons''', also known as '''KHC Dragons''' or simply '''Dragons''', is a Belgian professional field hockey club based in Brasschaat, Antwerp Province. The club was founded in 1946.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dragons.be/|title=:: KHC Dragons ::|work=|accessdate=2015-02-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/khcdragons|title=KHC Dragons - Twitter|work=|accessdate=2015-02-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://dimasports.hockey.be/Competition/tabid/57/language/nl-BE/Default.aspx|title=Championnat de Belgique de hockey - Competitions|work=|accessdate=2015-02-01}}</ref> Since the end of the eighties the club competes in Belgium's first tier, Honour Division.
== History == HC Dragons were founded on the 26th of October 1946 at Café Royal in Berchem. With only 11 members the club played recreational hockey in the Belgian lower divisions.
Before moving in 1961 to the present location in Brasschaat the club played on different fields around Antwerp. The club's turning point came in 1981 when Jacques Daems became the president of the club. It was his ambition that the club should be one of the best in Belgium. A few years later the club installed its first artificial turf and promoted in 1988 to the Honour Division. A year later the women's team promoted to the Honour Division as well.
In 1996 the club celebrated its 50th anniversary and changed its name to ''Koninklijke Hockey Club Dragons'' (Royal Hockey Club Dragons). Meanwhile, the club installed its second artificial turf and the club won its first silverware when the women's team won in 1994 the Belgian double.
Ather the first successes with the women's team, the men's team won its first championship in 1997. Ever since both Dragons men and women are considered Belgian top teams.
Together with the rise of Belgian hockey, Dragons flourished as well at the European level. After winning its 6th national title in 2010 Dragons participated for the first time in the Euro Hockey League. Beating the reigning UHC Hamburg. One year later Dragons won the Bronze medal and played the EHL final 2013.
Besides the successes, the club kept growing in numbers and added a third artificial turf in 2013. In 2015 Dragons was the host of the World League Semi-Final and added even a fourth field. At the moment KHC Dragons count 1500 members and are the biggest hockey club in Belgium.
==Pronunciation== In English communication, the club is often pronounced in an English manner. Officially though, the club has to be pronounced in the French way ''(drʁagõ)'' without 's'.
Therefore, the Dragons (De Draken) is a nickname for the players. (sometimes female players are referred to as ''Dragonettes'').
==Players== ===Current squad=== ====Men's squad==== {{Updated|2021–22}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Club detail Dragons - Men|url=https://www.tophockeyleague.be/teams/club-detail-dragons-men/|access-date=2021-10-27|archive-date=2021-10-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027182534/https://www.tophockeyleague.be/teams/club-detail-dragons-men/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Head coach: {{flagicon|NED}} Dennis Dijkshoorn {{fhs start}} {{fhs player|no=1|pos=MF|nat=BEL|name=Victor Foubert}} {{fhs player|no=2|pos=GK|nat=BEL|name=Loic Van Doren}} {{fhs player|no=4|pos=MF|nat=BEL|name=Lucas Putters}} {{fhs player|no=5|pos=DF|nat=BEL|name=Max Lootens}} {{fhs player|no=7|pos=MF|nat=BEL|name=Robbert Rubens}} {{fhs player|no=8|pos=GK|nat=BEL|name=Vincent Schroyen}} {{fhs player|no=9|pos=DF|nat=BEL|name=Mathew Cobbaert}} {{fhs player|no=10|pos=FW|nat=ARG|name=Nicolás Della Torre}} {{fhs player|no=11|pos=FW|nat=BEL|name=Florent Van Aubel}} {{fs mid}} {{fhs player|no=12|pos=DF|nat=BEL|name=Timothy Luyten}} {{fhs player|no=13|pos=MF|nat=BEL|name=Simon Gougnard}} {{fhs player|no=17|pos=DF|nat=BEL|name=Sebastiaan Geers}} {{fhs player|no=19|pos=MF|nat=BEL|name=Félix Denayer|other=Captain}} {{fhs player|no=20|pos=DF|nat=BEL|name=Robert Snoeck}} {{fhs player|no=21|pos=GK|nat=BEL|name=Frédréric Beeckman}} {{fhs player|no=22|pos=FW|nat=ARG|name=Lucas Martínez}} {{fhs player|no=23|pos=FW|nat=BEL|name=Henri Raes}} {{fhs player|no=27|pos=DF|nat=IRE|name=Conor Harte|natvar=hockey}} {{fs end}}
====Women's squad==== {{Updated|2021–22}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Club detail Dragons -Women |url=https://www.tophockeyleague.be/teams/club-detail-dragons-women/ |access-date=2021-10-14 |archive-date=2021-10-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029174956/https://www.tophockeyleague.be/teams/club-detail-dragons-women/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Head coach: Justus Robert {{fhs start}} {{fhs player|no=1|pos=GK|nat=BEL|name=Marie Goethals De Mude}} {{fhs player|no=2|pos=GK|nat=NED|name=Roos Knijff}} {{fhs player|no=3|pos=MF|nat=ARG|name=Rocio Emme}} {{fhs player|no=5|pos=DF|nat=BEL|name=Stephanie De Groof|other=Captain}} {{fhs player|no=7|pos=DF|nat=BEL|name=Ophélie Marien}} {{fhs player|no=8|pos=MF|nat=GER|name=Anabel Herzsprung}} {{fhs player|no=9|pos=MF|nat=NED|name=Imke Verstraeten}} {{fhs player|no=10|pos=FW|nat=NED|name=Fleur Broers}} {{fhs player|no=11|pos=MF|nat=NED|name=Valerie Magis}} {{fs mid}} {{fhs player|no=12|pos=MF|nat=BEL|name=Fleur Verboven}} {{fhs player|no=14|pos=FW|nat=BEL|name=Manon Simons}} {{fhs player|no=15|pos=FW|nat=BEL|name=Abigail Raye}} {{fhs player|no=17|pos=MF|nat=BEL|name=Delphine Marien}} {{fhs player|no=18|pos=FW|nat=BEL|name=Margaux Struyf}} {{fhs player|no=23|pos=MF|nat=ARG|name=Jimena Cedrés}} {{fhs player|no=24|pos=DF|nat=BEL|name=Carolien Jakus}} {{fhs player|no=25|pos=DF|nat=URU|name=Manuela Vilar del Valle}} {{fs end}}
===Notable players=== ====Men's internationals==== ;{{fh|Belgium}} {| |- style="vertical-align:top" || * Thomas Briels * Félix Denayer * Loïck Luypaert * Xavier Reckinger || * Jeffrey Thys * Florent van Aubel * Arthur Van Doren * Victor Wegnez |} ;{{fh|Ireland}} {| |- style="vertical-align:top" || * Joe Brennan * Stephen Butler * Kyle Good * Eugene Magee * Geoff McCabe || * Shane O'Donoghue * Graham Shaw * Kirk Shimmins * Michael Watt |}
{{small|'''Source''':<ref name="ehlhockey071004">{{cite news|url=http://ehlhockey.tv/news/odonoghue-and-good-continue-dragons-irish-connection/|title=O'Donoghue and Good continue Dragons' Irish connection|publisher=ehlhockey.tv|accessdate=7 September 2018|archive-date=7 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907221430/http://ehlhockey.tv/news/odonoghue-and-good-continue-dragons-irish-connection/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="hookhockey130618">{{cite news|url=http://www.hookhockey.com/index.php/2018/06/shimmins-set-to-breathe-fire-with-dragons-next-season/#.W5KdJPZFxy0|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621061724/http://www.hookhockey.com/index.php/2018/06/shimmins-set-to-breathe-fire-with-dragons-next-season/#.W5KdJPZFxy0|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 21, 2018|title=Shimmins set to breathe fire with Dragons next season|publisher=www.hookhockey.com|accessdate=7 September 2018|date=13 June 2018}}</ref>}}
====Women's internationals==== ;{{fhw|Belgium}} * Louise Cavenaile * Stephanie De Groof ;{{fhw|Ireland}} * Emily Beatty * Kate Lloyd * Shirley McCay ;{{fhw|Italy}} * Chiara Tiddi
{{small|'''Source''':<ref name="hookhockey120716">{{cite news|url=http://www.hookhockey.com/index.php/2016/07/beatty-lloyd-and-carey-set-for-foreign-pastures/#.W4mhH_ZFxy0|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905214738/http://www.hookhockey.com/index.php/2016/07/beatty-lloyd-and-carey-set-for-foreign-pastures/#.W4mhH_ZFxy0|url-status=usurped|archive-date=September 5, 2018|title=Beatty, Lloyd and Carey set for foreign pastures|publisher=www.hookhockey.com|accessdate=31 August 2018|date=12 July 2016}}</ref>}}
==Honours== ===Men=== ;Belgian Hockey League *'''Winners (12):''' 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2020–21 ;Euro Hockey League *''Runners-up (1):'' 2012–13 ;EuroHockey Club Trophy *'''Winners (1):''' 2001 *''Runners-up (1):'' 1998 ;EuroHockey Cup Winners Trophy *'''Winners (2)''': 2003, 2005 ;Belgian Cup *'''Winners (3)''': 1993, 2002, 2005 ;Belgian Indoor Championship *'''Winners (1)''': 1999
===Women=== ;Belgian Hockey League * '''Winners (1)''': 1993–94 ;EuroHockey Club Trophy * '''Winners (1):''' 2022 ;Belgian Cup * '''Winners (2)''': 1994, 2005 Belgian Indoor Championship * '''Winners (1)''': 1997
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Men's Belgian Hockey League}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dragons}} Category:KHC Dragons Category:Field hockey clubs in Belgium Category:1946 establishments in Belgium Category:Field hockey clubs established in 1946 Category:Sports clubs and teams in Antwerp Province Category:Brasschaat