Balingen wins first gold baton, Opel takes fourth in men’s class | hockey

Ballingen has been a rising star in the Belgian hockey scene for years. On Wednesday evening, she was crowned the best player in the Belgian competition for the 2020-2021 season at the Golden Roe ceremony.

The young striker from the Red Panthers, working at home in Gantoise, was chosen over teammate Alix Gerniers, who has already won the award three times, and over young Charlotte Englebert of Racing Brussels.

At the age of twenty, Balingen played 46 international matches with the national team. She competed in two European Championships, in Antwerp in 2019 and Amsterdam last summer. At the last European Championship, she was voted as the Best Young Player.

Ballingin succeeds Emma Boufrez on the honor roll, who received the award in 2019. Last year, the Golden Stick was not delivered due to the Corona crisis.

For men, the award went to Florent van Opel for the fourth time. The Dragons Ball artist has previously won the award in 2012, 2018, and 2019. As there was no concert in the past year, he has already won for the third time in a row.

Van Aubel was selected for teammate Félix Denayer and Waterloo defender Ducks Gauthier Boccard. Van Opel was crucial to his club’s twelfth national title win. He already has 7 national titles to his name. At the Red Lions, the 30-year-old Van Aubel is a constant value, with 254 caps already.

Van Opel replied: “I can pick two or three players on our team who deserve this award.” “Last year, we took the title with the Dragons, after coming off a undefeated position.”

“I’m proud that I was able to put a part of our character in this team with Felix Denayer. It’s up to us to keep doing that. That I’ve won everything now? That’s right, but I want to do it all again, and also with the Lions.”