Nicolás Keenan and Lucas Martínez, leaders of a new stage in Los Leones

New process, new faces, but references that will also continue. The Lions will begin their journey in the 2024/2025 season with the Pro League in Santiago del Estero against Ireland and England from December 10 to 15 and that can be seen on the Disney Plus Premium and AM850 3 screens. In this regard, Nicolás Keenan and Lucas Martínez They talked about the arrival of the coaching staff led by Lucas Rey, the squad with new faces and what left a year full of hockey that had its main milestone in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

“We are happy to be here again with a new group, new coaching staff, many new faces, new energy. “Looking forward to this Pro League starting.”Keenan said. The HC Klein Zwitserland player from the Netherlands traveled to Paris as a reserve, but he had a lot of action and upon his return to the country he is already excited about the renewed process that is beginning. ““You have to understand how everything is put together and above all have the patience that it is a construction because there is a lot of change, many new things and that takes time to adapt.”added Martínez, who plays for the KHC Dragons in Belgium.

The Lions were up to par this year. They achieved their best historical position in the last Pro League and narrowly missed a place in the semifinals of the Olympic event against Germany. “We competed until the end in the Pro League because we knew it was an important year and that if we were going to compete in Paris we had to do well. I think we played a very good game in the quarterfinals and we were there, just shy of standing up to Germany. There was internal talk that it was a good year. Now looking at it from a greater distance, we played well, and now we are going to start doing the same: compete more and more against the teams at the top.”analyzed Nicolás.

The arrival of Lucas Rey represented a new paradigm for the Argentine men’s hockey team. King, with nearby player and school scrolls rearguard It has a very own style. “Hockey itself is pretty dynamic, so it’s hard to sit back and compare some things. I think a big difference is going to be generating a little more rhythm, a little better ball play. It doesn’t mean that it wasn’t there before, it’s just that this coaching staff puts a little more focus on that, and well, we’ll have to try to do it.”Lucas emphasized. And Nico added: “We have to continue working with the volume of play, to have more balls up front, and I think we are going to get results. We have very quality forwards. The new players have a lot of quality, they are very good.”

New names, shorter ages, make up the new squad led by Rey that also leads to a basis of the previous process. “Those of us who have more experience have to start passing on that group identity to the younger people. I think we are going to see some aggressive Lions, with a very strong defensive block, that is what we are going to try.”Keenan said. “I want to try to help the group be well, to be warm, to have harmony, to have good vibes, to help things go in the same direction”Martínez added.

To close, both stated what their desire is with this new stage that is starting. “On the field I am going to contribute from the block and try to be aggressive inside the area”Lucas stressed. “I hope you see Nico Keenan enjoying himself, which is when I play best. Playing at home is always very nice”Nico closed.