Saisonofschloss fir d'Knights: Stolz an Erausfuerderunge fir d'Zukunft

1st April 2026

D'Beaufort Knights hunn hir Saison an der belscher Divisioun 1 (Grupp A) op der 5. Plaz ofgeschloss. Och wann den Dram vun de Playoffs bis zum Schluss gelieft huet, war déi lescht Phas vun der Saison vu groussen Erausfuerderunge gepräägt.

Eng schwiereg Schlussphas
Déi lescht dräi Matcher waren eng haart Belaaschtungsprouf. Obwuel d'Nationalekipp an den Tornado Lëtzebuerg de Knights-Spiller d'Méiglechkeet ginn hunn, bei hinne mat ze trainéieren, ass dat net duergaangen, fir d'Struktur vun der Ekipp stabil ze halen. Géint d'Top-Ekippe vun der Liga gouf dëst däitlech: d'Knights hu mat 0-13 géint Herentals an 1-14 géint Antwerpen verluer.

Trotzdeem haten d'Knights bis zum Schluss d'Chance op d'Playoffs. Eng knapp 5-6 Néierlag géint Charleroi am leschte Match huet d'Hoffnung lieweg gehalen, mee um Enn hunn d'Bulldogs Liège – verstäerkt duerch Spiller aus hirer éischter Ekipp – d'Leuven Chiefs Black an der Verlängerung geschloen an sech sou déi lescht Playoff-Plaz viru Beefort geséchert.

De Resumé vum Trainer Andrey Esipov
Den Trainer zitt e gemëschte, mee positive Bilan:

"Gratulatioun u jiddereen zum Enn vun der Saison. Géint Ekippe wéi Antwerpen, Leuven an Herentals ass et objektiv ganz schwéier fir eis fir mathalen ze kënnen – besonnesch ouni reguläert Äis gëtt dat bal onméiglech. Deen Niveau-Ënnerscheed mierkt een direkt. Géint Ekippe wéi Charleroi, déi méi op eisem Niveau sinn, kënne mir vill besser matspillen.

Insgesamt huet d'Ekipp dës Saison e grousse Schrëtt no vir gemaach. Fir d'éischt Kéier hu mir an der Top-Grupp matgespillt an haten d'Chance, géint staark Géigner unzetrieden. Mir konnten an e puer Matcher Punkten huelen, deelweis mat e bësse Gléck, mee virun allem duerch eis Aarbecht an eise Fortschrëtt. Ech sinn am grousse Ganzen zefridden, mee d'Haaptproblemer bleiwen: de Mangel un Äis an de klenge Kader mat dacks nëmmen 10 bis 12 Spiller. Mir musse verstoen, datt déi nächst Saison nach méi schwéier gëtt. Ech wëll eise Fans a jiddereen, deen op den Training an op d'Matcher komm ass, villmools Merci soen."

E grousse Merci un d'Fans
Déi ganz Knights-Ekipp wëll sech nach eng Kéier bei hire loyalen a begeeschterte Fans fir d'Ënnerstëtzung bedanken. Dëse Support motivéiert d'Ekipp, sech weider z'entwéckelen. Mir kommen d'nächst Saison nach méi motivéiert a méi staark zeréck!

A wéi ëmmer: Go Knights Go!

EN
 Season Wrap-Up: Pride and Progress as Knights Finish 5th

The Beaufort Knights have concluded their campaign in Group A of the Belgian Division 1, finishing in 5th place. While the playoff dream remained alive until the final moments, the closing stretch of the season highlighted the significant hurdles facing the club.

A Challenging Final Stretch
The final three games proved difficult for the Knights. Despite the generous cooperation of the National Team and Tornado Luxembourg, who allowed Knights players to join their ice practices, it was not enough to maintain team cohesion. This was evident against the league’s heavyweights, resulting in a 13-0 loss to Herentals and a 14-1 defeat against Antwerp.

Despite this, the Knights fought until the very end. A narrow 6-5 loss to Charleroi in the final round kept the playoff dream flickering. Ultimately, however, the Liège Bulldogs—bolstered by players from their first team—defeated the Leuven Chiefs Black in overtime to secure the final playoff spot just ahead of Beaufort.

Coach Esipov’s Season Review
Head Coach Andrey Esipov shared his thoughts on the year:

"Congratulations to everyone on the end of the season. Objectively, it is very difficult for us to compete with teams like Antwerp, Leuven, and Herentals, especially without regular ice time. The difference in level is immediate. However, against teams closer to our level, like Charleroi, we can play on equal footing.

Overall, the team took a big step forward this season. For the first time, we competed in the top group and faced the league's strongest teams. We earned points through hard work and progress. While I am satisfied, our key issues remain: the lack of ice time, which limits development, and a short roster that often left us with only 10 to 12 players. Next season will be even more challenging as opponents will take us more seriously. I want to thank our fans and every player who contributed this year; I believe we achieved the maximum possible under the circumstances."

Thank You to the Fans
The entire Knights organization wishes to thank our loyal and enthusiastic fans for their continuous support. Your energy is what motivates the team to keep developing. We will return stronger and more motivated next season!

And as always: Go Knights Go!