Mechelen Golden Sharks

Mechelen Golden Sharks are a Belgian ice hockey team that plays in the BeNe League, the top tier of the sport in Belgium and the Netherlands. The team is based in Mechelen and play their home games at the Ice Skating Center Mechelen.

Mechelen Golden Sharks
CityMechelen, Belgium
LeagueBeNe League 2018-present
Belgian 2nd Division 2016-2018
Founded2016
Home arenaIce Skating Center Mechelen
(capacity: 1800[1])
ColoursGrey, gold, black, white, red
         
General managerLaurens Luykx
Head coachDanny Gyesbreghs
AffiliateFuture Golden Sharks
WebsiteMechelen Golden Sharks

History

The Mechelen Golden Sharks began to play in 2016, initially in the Belgian 2nd division.[2] There, they dominated the competition in their debut season, winning all but two of their games, ultimately finishing in the 1st place. The following season they returned, and were even more dominant, winning every game.[2] Subsequently, they moved to the BeNe League. In their first season in the BeNe League the team signed Lithuanian international and former Nijmegen Devil Aivaras Bendžius, however, they struggled against the tougher competition, finishing 10th out of 12 teams. They would improve in their 2nd season in the league, finishing 8th and qualifying for the play-offs, which were ultimately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3][4]

The Golden Sharks are the senior side representing the ColdPlay Sharks team. Meanwhile, a feeder team, the Future Golden Sharks plays in the Belgian 1st Division.[5]

Roster

Updated February 4, 2021.[6]

Goaltenders
Number Player Catches Acquired Place of Birth
1 Belgium Brent Vandenbergh - 2019 -
55 Canada/France Olivier Bertrand L 2018 Hull, Canada
19 Belgium Mike Jansen L 2020 -
94 Belgium Mike Gysbrechts L 2017 Antwerp, Belgium
Defencemen
Number Player Shoots Acquired Place of Birth
6 Belgium Vadim Gyesbreghs L 2020 Wilrijk, Belgium
9 Belgium Jakob Huyghe R 2016 -
23 Belgium Elan Verryt - 2020 -
47 Finland Kim Miettinen L 2019 Tuusula, Finland
81 Belgium Gijs De Schepper R 2020 Nieuwenrode, Belgium
14 Belgium Toon De Schepper R 2020 Nieuwenrode, Belgium
81 Belgium Rafael Salmi L 2019 -
29 Belgium Jens Theunis L 2020 -
65 Belgium Arne van Espen L 2019 -
81 Bosnia and Herzegovina Din Alen Filipović R 2019 -
Forwards
Number Player Shoots Position Acquired Place of Birth
4 Netherlands Elia Urlings - F 2019 Breda, Netherlands
12 Belgium Ben van den Bogaert L F 2019 -
13 Belgium Peik Walden - F 2020 -
18 Belgium Jano Vanderhulst - F 2017 -
20 Slovakia Marek Ziarny L F 2017 -
24 Belgium Kevin de Winter L F 2019 Antwerp, Belgium
28 Belgium Kenneth Pittoors L F 2019 -
61 Sweden/Belgium Adrian Koscher Ganslandt R F 2019 -
13 Sweden/Belgium Gabriel Koscher Ganslandt L F 2019 -
91 Belgium Stef Vermeulen L F 2019 -
10 Finland Arvo Lahti - F 2019 -
15 Belgium Axel Kila L F 2020 -
23 England Jordan Kelsall R F 2020 Nottingham, England
25 Belgium Mick Op de Beeck L LW 2018 -
31 Belgium Stefaan Swennen L F 2016 Wilrijk, Belgium
89 Belgium Timo Dewin L LW 2018 -

Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes

SeasonLeagueGPWLTOTWOTLPtsGFGAFinishPlayoffs
2016-17Belgian 2nd Division18142—2046156461st-
2017-18Belgian 2nd Division18180—0054253451st-
2018-19BeNe League22418—00126316510thDid not qualify.
2019-20BeNe League20911—002999958thPlayoffs cancelled

Team records

Career

These are the top five scorers in Golden Sharks history.[2]

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points

PlayerPosGPGAPts
Martin VáchalF2711385198
Marek ZiarnyF465776133
Olivier RolandF224470114
Jesse RaekelboomF133766103
Daniel BuddeD60264167

Penalty minutes: Jakob Huyghe, 149

Regular season
  • Most goals in a season: Martin Váchal, 102 (2017–18)
  • Most assists in a season: Martin Váchal, 77 (2017–18)
  • Most points in a season: Martin Váchal, 179 (2017–18)
  • Most penalty minutes in a season: Jakob Huyghe, 90 (2018–19)

Notable players

References
  1. "Ice Skating Center Mechelen on HockeyArenas.net". EliteProspects.com. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  2. "Elite Prospects - Sharks Mechelen". EliteProspects.com. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  3. "CORONA: BENE LEAGUE PER DIRECT GESTOPT" (in Dutch). BeNe League. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  4. "BeNeLiga - 2019-2020". EliteProspects.com. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  5. "RBIHF :: DIV1 :: Future Golden Sharks" (in Dutch). Royal Belgian Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  6. "BeNe League". BeNe League. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
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