WHEELCHAIR HOCKEY WORLD CHAMPION

Publication in the "Eindhovens Dagblad" (a local Dutch Newspaper) on 11 June 2004.

It shows how a boy with OI can reach the top in a sport if he perseveres.



Young wheelchair-hockey player dreams about the final against Germany at the World Championships 2004.

"Crack in taking penalties"

by: Jarno van Osch
He carries number fourteen in the Goirle1) wheelchair hockey club "Target Angels" and with the Dutch National team, but that has nothing to do with the legendary Johan Cruijff2), according to fifteen-year-old Dennis van de Boomen.
"I have always played with that number. I got it in the beginning of my career and I carried it all the time, but not because Cruijff accidentally had the same number." says van de Boomen. The "Reuselnaar3)" will have to put on his shirt again next week for the World Championships electric wheelchair hockey in Helsinki from 10 to 13 June, with number 14 of course. It is remarkable that the "Reuselnaar" goes to the World Championships at such a young age. The fifteen-year-old hockey player is seen as a great talent in the wheelchair hockey community.
Van de Boomen is the youngest selected player of the Dutch National team. For him it is the second time that he is in the Dutch National Team. I have been along to the Four Countries Trophy and now the World Championship, which is of course fantastic when you are so young. The wheelchair hockey player from Reusel was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (better known as OI). This disease makes that my bones can fracture very easily, explains van de Boomen. This makes participating in sports activities very difficult, because many physical activities could be too heavy for him. So Dennis's mother was very concerned when he launched the idea. He came home from school and told me that he wanted to play hockey, I was frightened out of my wits she said.
Yet it did happen. Van de Boomen started playing hockey at the age of 6. He was quite good at it from the start and because it is not a very heavy sport (the bal and the stick weigh virtually nothing) he has not fractured anything (as a result of playing hockey) so far. Once I fell out of my wheelchair, but miraculously I only had a bruised shoulder. Now nine years after his entry Dennis van de Boomen is at the national top. He finished third on the top scorer list last season. I like to play in a forward position and I can keep the bal quite good. I can shoot rather easily, which is an advantage for a forward, he laughs. The "Reuselnaar" is known as a keen but somewhat sly player. I tend to hook the stick of an opponent, but only when the referee is not looking. He pulls this off rather well, because he never got a yellow or red card in his career.

Opponents
The World Championship is a real dream for Dennis van de Boomen. Together with his teammates he will try to continue the title, which they conquered in their own country in 1998. Seven teams will come into action at the tournament in Finland. The Netherlands is in poule A together with Belgium and Italy. The third team Spain was also to participate originally, but withdrew for political reasons. The Basks did not want to play together with the Catalans, really absurd according to van de Boomen. However, this means that we have already won two games. One could not wish a better start. According to Dennis, Germany in the other poule is a fierce opponent. Together with the Netherlands they start this Championship as the favorites. They were also the two finalists at the previous World Championship. Then the Germans were in advantage with 2-0, but lost the game in the end by penalties. Van de Boomen hopes that they will meet their Eastern neighbors again in the final this year. This is really a dream of mine, but I would not mind if it would be another competitor. I simply want to win this tournament.

Home Journey
The wheelchair hockey player looks forward to the journey back home on the boat. The captain will give us a tour of the ship. We will be at sea when the Dutch football team plays against Germany. Accidentally the German hockey team will be on the same boat, so that could be fun. Van de Boomen hopes that the Dutch (football) team will not be eliminated by penalties this year in Portugal, like it happened several times before. They are not so good in taking penalties. I would have no problem taking penalties in Finland, because we are cracks at that.

1)small town in the south of the Netherlands.
2)Famous Dutch soccer player.
3)Inhabitant of Reusel, where Dennis lives.

Notes added by the webmaster:
  1. Besides Dennis there were OI hockey players from Finland, Germany and Australia at the championship.
  2. Dennis's team became World Champion.
  3. They won the final against the team from Germany by 4 to 0.
  4. Dennis did not have to take one penalty.


    5. page last updated 29 June 2004