Mechelen Golden Sharks

Last updated
Mechelen Golden Sharks
Mechelen Golden Sharks logo.png
City Mechelen, Belgium
League BeNe League 2018-present
Belgian 2nd Division 2016-2018
Founded2016
Home arena Ice Skating Center Mechelen
(capacity: 1800 [1] )
ColoursGrey, gold, black, white, red
     
General manager Laurens Luykx
Head coach Danny Gyesbreghs
AffiliateFuture Golden Sharks
Website Mechelen Golden Sharks

Mechelen Golden Sharks are a Belgian professional 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.

Contents

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
NumberPlayerCatchesAcquiredPlace of Birth
1 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Brent Vandenbergh -2019-
55 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg / Flag of France.svg Olivier Bertrand L2018 Hull, Canada
19 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Mike Jansen L2020-
94 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Mike Gysbrechts L2017 Antwerp, Belgium
Defencemen
NumberPlayerShootsAcquiredPlace of Birth
6 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Vadim Gyesbreghs L2020 Wilrijk, Belgium
9 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jakob Huyghe R2016-
23 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Elan Verryt -2020-
47 Flag of Finland.svg Kim Miettinen L2019 Tuusula, Finland
81 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Gijs De Schepper R2020 Nieuwenrode, Belgium
14 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Toon De Schepper R2020 Nieuwenrode, Belgium
81 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Rafael Salmi L2019-
29 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jens Theunis L2020-
65 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Arne van Espen L2019-
81 Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Din Alen Filipović R2019-
Forwards
NumberPlayerShootsPositionAcquiredPlace of Birth
4 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Elia Urlings -F2019 Breda, Netherlands
12 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Ben van den Bogaert LF2019-
13 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Peik Walden -F2020-
18 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jano Vanderhulst -F2017-
20 Flag of Slovakia.svg Marek Ziarny LF2017-
24 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Kevin de Winter LF2019 Antwerp, Belgium
28 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Kenneth Pittoors LF2019-
61 Flag of Sweden.svg / Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Adrian Koscher Ganslandt RF2019-
13 Flag of Sweden.svg / Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Gabriel Koscher Ganslandt LF2019-
91 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Stef Vermeulen LF2019-
10 Flag of Finland.svg Arvo Lahti -F2019-
15 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Axel Kila LF2020-
23 Flag of England.svg Jordan Kelsall RF2020 Nottingham, England
25 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Mick Op de Beeck LLW2018-
31 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Stefaan Swennen LF2016 Wilrijk, Belgium
89 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Timo Dewin LLW2018-

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 Division181422046156461st-
2017-18Belgian 2nd Division181800054253451st-
2018-19 BeNe League 2241800126316510thDid not qualify.
2019-20 BeNe League 20911002999958th Playoffs 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 Váchal F2711385198
Marek Ziarny F465776133
Olivier Roland F224470114
Jesse Raekelboom F133766103
Daniel Budde D60264167

Penalty minutes: Jakob Huyghe, 149

Season

Regular season

Notable players

References

  1. "Ice Skating Center Mechelen on HockeyArenas.net". EliteProspects.com. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "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.