Kalinga Lancers

Kalinga Lancers
Full nameKalinga Lancers
Nickname(s)Lancers
LeagueHockey India League
Founded2013
Colors   
Home groundKalinga Stadium
Bhubaneswar, Odisha
(Capacity 15,000)
Personnel
CaptainAustralia Arthur Van Doren
India Sanjay Rana
CoachAustralia Jay Stacy
OwnerVedanta Aluminium
CEOC. Chandru
(CEO, Vedanta Limited)
Members
Websitekalingalancers-vedanta.com
Performance
Winners 2017, 2025–26
Runners-up 2016
Home
Away

Kalinga Lancers (Odia: କଳିଙ୍ଗ ଲ୍ୟାନ୍ସର୍ସ) is an Indian professional field hockey franchise team based in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.[1] Owned by Vedanta Aluminium, the franchise competes in the Hockey India League, the top flight of Indian field hockey.[2]

History

In their inaugural season in 2014, the Kalinga Lancers finished at the sixth spot at the end of league stage, and did not qualify for the semi-finals.[3] Lancers also finished the 2015 edition in a similar fashion, finishing fifth at the end of the league stage.[4]

In the 2016 Hockey India League, the Kalinga Lancers finished fourth at the end of league stage and advanced into the semi-finals for the first time, garnering 25 points from 10 games. In the semi-finals, the Lancers defeated Ranchi Rays 2–2 (4–2) to reach the Final. In the final, the Lancers faced Punjab Warriors which they lost 1–6, finishing the league as the runners-up.[5]

In the 2017 Hockey India League, the Kalinga Lancers finished second at the end of league stage and advanced into the semi-finals garnering 28 points from 10 games. In the semi-finals, the Lancers defeated Uttar Pradesh Wizards 4–4 (4–3) to reach the Final. On 26 February 2017, Kalinga Lancers defeated Dabang Mumbai 4–1 in the final to win their first ever silverware.[6]

Kalinga Lancers had a mixed campaign in the 2024–25 Hockey India League as they finished sixth in the league table with 12 points from 10 matches, recording three wins, one shoot-out win, five losses, and one shoot-out loss. The team scored 31 goals and conceded the same number, ending with a neutral goal difference. Thierry Brinkman emerged as their standout performer, netting 10 goals to finish among the league's top scorers. A series of narrow losses and missed opportunities in crucial games cost them a spot in the semifinals.[7]

Ownership

Since its establishment in 2013, the Kalinga Lancers hockey franchise was jointly owned by Mahanadi Coalfields and Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation.[8] Ahead of the 2024–25 Hockey India League season, the Vedanta Group acquired full ownership of the team.[2]

Stadium

Main article: Kalinga Stadium

Established in 2010, the Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar, is the home ground of the Kalinga Lancers. The 16,000-capacity stadium has hosted several national and international tournaments including the Men's FIH Hockey World Cup, Hockey Champions Trophy, Men's FIH Hockey World League, FIH Hockey Series Finals, Men's FIH Hockey Junior World Cup, Men's FIH Pro League and Women's FIH Pro League. It was one of the venues to host the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. The stadium also serves as the home base for the men's national field hockey team, women's national field hockey team and youth national teams.[9][10]

Squad

As of 8 January 2026[11]
No. Player Nationality Signed Salary
Goalkeepers
1 Jed Snowden  Australia 2025 ₹10 lakh (US$11,000)
12 Krishan Pathak  India 2024 ₹32 lakh (US$34,000)
Defenders
4 Arthur Van Doren  Belgium 2024 ₹32 lakh (US$34,000)
15 Rohit Kullu  India 2024 ₹2 lakh (US$2,100)
16 Alexander Hendrickx  Belgium 2024 ₹23 lakh (US$24,000)
17 Sunil PB  India 2025 ₹2 lakh (US$2,100)
20 Partap Lakra  India 2024 ₹2 lakh (US$2,100)
24 Antoine Kina  Belgium 2024 ₹16 lakh (US$17,000)
48 Dipsan Tirkey  India 2025 N/a
70 Sanjay Rana  India 2024 ₹38 lakh (US$40,000)
Midfielders
10 Liam Henderson  Australia 2025 ₹42 lakh (US$44,000)
19 Craig Marais  Australia 2025 ₹10 lakh (US$11,000)
21 Rosan Kujur  India 2024 ₹12.5 lakh (US$13,000)
29 Rabichandra Singh Moirangthem  India 2024 ₹32 lakh (US$34,000)
39 Amit Kumar Toppo  India 2025 ₹2 lakh (US$2,100)
Forwards
5 Cooper Burns  Australia 2025 ₹34.5 lakh (US$36,000)
7 Gursahibjit Singh  India 2024 ₹6 lakh (US$6,300)
8 Boby Singh Dhami  India 2025 ₹10 lakh (US$11,000)
9 Dilpreet Singh  India 2024 ₹34 lakh (US$36,000)
26 Deepak Pradhan  India 2024 ₹2 lakh (US$2,100)
99 Angad Bir Singh  India 2024 ₹26 lakh (US$27,000)

Personnel

Technical staff

As of 28 December 2025[12]
Position Name Ref.
Head Coach Australia Jay Stacy [13]
Technical & Strategy Coach Belgium Pascal Kina [14]
Assistant Coach India B. J. Kariappa [15]
Team Manager India Anjaparavanda B. Subbaiah [16]
Physiotherapist India Boddhisattva Dass [12]
Physical Trainer India Damanpreet Singh Sial [12]

Coaching history

Name Nationality Period
Terry Walsh  Australia 2014
Jude Felix Sebastian  India 2015
Mark Hager  Australia 2016–2017
Valentin Altenburg  Germany 2024
Jay Stacy  Australia 2025–

Statistics

Alexander Hendrickx, Kalinga Lancers' all-time leading goalscorer with 19 goals to his name.

Overall

As of 26 January 2026

2014–2017

Season Matches Won Drawn Lost GF GA Position
2014 10 2 1 7 23 34 6th
2015 10 3 1 6 17 26 5th
2016 12 5 1 6 42 44 Runners-Up
2017 12 7 1 4 40 45 Champions

2024–

Season Matches Won SOW Lost SOL GF GA Position
2024–25 10 3 1 5 1 31 31 6th
2025–26 9 6 2 1 0 21 11 Champions

Performance by opposition

As of 26 January 2026

2014–2017

Opposition Matches Won Drawn Lost GF GA Win%
Dabang Mumbai 7 5 0 2 23 14 71.4%
Delhi Waveriders 8 3 1 4 16 24 37.5%
Mumbai Magicians 2 1 0 1 4 4 50%
Punjab Warriors 9 2 2 5 24 32 22.2%
Ranchi Rays 7 3 0 4 18 24 42.8%
Ranchi Rhinos 2 1 0 1 6 4 50%
Uttar Pradesh Wizards 9 2 1 6 28 33 22.2%

2024–

Opposition Matches Won SOW Lost SOL GF GA Win%
Delhi SG Pipers 3 2 1 0 0 16 7 100%
HIL Governing Council 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 100%
Hyderabad Toofans 2 1 0 1 0 2 5 50%
Rarh Bengal Tigers 3 2 0 1 0 11 6 67%
Ranchi Royals 3 3 0 0 0 9 5 100%
Soorma Hockey Club 3 0 0 3 0 7 11 0%
Tamil Nadu Dragons 1 0 1 0 1 3 3 50%
Team Gonasika 1 1 0 0 0 2 1 100%
UP Rudras 1 0 0 1 0 1 3 0%

Top goalscorers

As of 26 January 2026
Rank Player Nationality Goals
1 Alexander Hendrickx  Belgium 19
2 Glenn Turner  Australia 15
3 Moritz Fürste  Germany 11
4 Thierry Brinkman  Netherlands 10
5 Gonzalo Peillat  Argentina 8
Gurjinder Singh  India 8
6 Lalit Upadhyay  India 6
Lucas Vila  Argentina 6

Seasons

2014

Gonzalo Peillat was the top scorer in Kalinga Lancers' inaugural season in 2014.
No. Date Result Opponent Venue Report
1 28 January 3 – 7 Punjab Warriors Bhubaneswar Match 5
2 30 January 5 – 0 Delhi Waveriders Delhi Match 7
3 1 February 2 – 1 Mumbai Magicians Bhubaneswar Match 10
4 2 February 3 – 4 Delhi Waveriders Bhubaneswar Match 12
5 7 February 3 – 2 Ranchi Rhinos Ranchi Match 16
6 9 February 3 – 1 Uttar Pradesh Wizards Lucknow Match 19
7 11 February 3 – 3 Punjab Warriors Mohali Match 21
8 13 February 3 – 4 Uttar Pradesh Wizards Bhubaneswar Match 23
9 14 February 4 – 1 Ranchi Rhinos Bhubaneswar Match 24
10 16 February 3 – 2 Mumbai Magicians Mumbai Match 27
Position: 6th
  • Goals for: 23 (2.30 per match)
  • Goals against: 34 (3.40 per match)
  • Most goals: 8

2015

No. Date Result Opponent Venue Report
1 22 January 6 – 3 Ranchi Rays Bhubaneswar Match 1
2 25 January 4 – 2 Punjab Warriors Mohali Match 5
3 29 January 5 – 1 Uttar Pradesh Wizards Lucknow Match 9
4 31 January 0 – 2 Uttar Pradesh Wizards Bhubaneswar Match 11
5 1 February 1 – 3 Punjab Warriors Bhubaneswar Match 13
6 6 February 4 – 0 Ranchi Rays Ranchi Match 17
7 8 February 2 – 1 Dabang Mumbai Mumbai Match 20
8 12 February 2 – 2 Delhi Waveriders Bhubaneswar Match 23
9 13 February 2 – 1 Dabang Mumbai Bhubaneswar Match 24
10 15 February 1 – 2 Delhi Waveriders New Delhi Match 27
Position: 5th
  • Goals for: 17 (1.70 per match)
  • Goals against: 26 (2.60 per match)
  • Most goals: 5
    • Gurjinder Singh

2016

Glenn Turner, Kalinga Lancers' top scorer in 2016 and 2017 HIL editions.
No. Date Result Opponent Venue Report
1 18 January 6 – 8 Uttar Pradesh Wizards Bhubaneswar Match 1
2 21 January 4 – 2 Dabang Mumbai Bhubaneswar Match 4
3 25 January 2 – 10 Uttar Pradesh Wizards Lucknow Match 8
4 28 January 3 – 2 Ranchi Rays Ranchi Match 10
5 31 January 4 – 6 Dabang Mumbai Mumbai Match 13
6 5 February 4 – 0 Delhi Waveriders Bhubaneswar Match 18
7 7 February 1 – 4 Punjab Warriors Bhubaneswar Match 20
8 8 February 2 – 3 Ranchi Rays Bhubaneswar Match 21
9 15 February 4 – 4 Punjab Warriors Mohali Match 28
10 17 January 6 – 0 Delhi Waveriders New Delhi Match 30
11 20 February 2 – 2 (2 – 4) Ranchi Rays Ranchi Semi-final 2
12 21 February 1 – 6 Punjab Warriors Ranchi Final
Position: Runners-Up
  • Goals for: 42 (3.5 per match)
  • Goals against: 44 (3.6 per match)
  • Most goals: 15

2017

Moritz Fürste captained the Kalinga Lancers side in their title winning 2017 HIL season and ended up as the top scorer of the edition.
No. Date Result Opponent Venue Report
1 22 January 1 – 0 Delhi Waveriders Bhubaneswar Match 2
2 23 January 4 – 2 Ranchi Rays Bhubaneswar Match 3
3 26 January 7 – 2 Ranchi Rays Ranchi Match 5
4 29 January 0 – 10 Uttar Pradesh Wizards Bhubaneswar Match 8
5 31 January 3 – 4 Dabang Mumbai Mumbai Match 10
6 3 February 6 – 5 Punjab Warriors Bhubaneswar Match 13
7 5 February 2 – 5 Dabang Mumbai Bhubaneswar Match 15
8 10 February 2 – 2 Uttar Pradesh Wizards Lucknow Match 19
9 12 February 6 – 4 Delhi Waveriders New Delhi Match 21
10 18 February 0 – 7 Punjab Warriors Chandigarh Match 26
11 25 February 4 – 4 (4 – 3) Uttar Pradesh Wizards Chandigarh Semi-final 1
12 26 February 4 – 1 Dabang Mumbai Chandigarh Final
Position: Champions
  • Goals for: 40 (3.3 per match)
  • Goals against: 45 (3.7 per match)
  • Most Goals: 12

2024–25

No. Date Result Opponent Venue Report
1 30 December 1 – 3 UP Rudras Rourkela Match 4
2 3 January 2 – 2 (5 – 6) Tamil Nadu Dragons Rourkela Match 8
3 5 January 3 – 4 Soorma Hockey Club Rourkela Match 11
4 7 January 6 – 0 Rarh Bengal Tigers Rourkela Match 14
5 9 January 2 – 1 Team Gonasika Rourkela Match 17
6 12 January 1 – 5 Hyderabad Toofans Rourkela Match 21
7 16 January 5 – 1 Delhi SG Pipers Rourkela Match 25
8 19 January 5 – 5 (3 – 2) Delhi SG Pipers Rourkela Match 29
9 24 January 3 – 5 Rarh Bengal Tigers Ranchi Match 34
10 27 January 1 – 2 Soorma Hockey Club Ranchi Match 38
Position: 6th
  • Goals for: 31 (3.10 per match)
  • Goals against: 31 (3.10 per match)
  • Most goals: 10
    • Thierry Brinkman

2025–26

No. Date Result Opponent Venue Report
1 4 January 4 – 2 Ranchi Royals Chennai Match 3
2 8 January 2 – 1 Rarh Bengal Tigers Chennai Match 8
3 11 January 1 – 1 (3 – 1) HIL Governing Council Ranchi Match 11
4 14 January 1 – 0 Hyderabad Toofans Ranchi Match 16
5 17 January 6 – 1 Delhi SG Pipers Bhubaneswar Match 21
6 18 January 1 – 1 (4 – 1) Tamil Nadu Dragons Bhubaneswar Match 23
7 20 January 1 – 2 Soorma Hockey Club Bhubaneswar Match 26
8 23 January 2 – 1 Ranchi Royals Bhubaneswar Qualifier 1
9 26 January 3 – 2 Ranchi Royals Bhubaneswar Final
Position: Champions
  • Goals for: 21 (2.33 per match)
  • Goals against: 11 (1.22 per match)
  • Most goals: 12
    • Alexander Hendrickx

References

  1. ^ Sportstar, Team (13 October 2024). "Kalinga Lancers (Odisha) squad, Hockey India League 2024-25: Full list of players after auction, remaining purse". Sportstar. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Vedanta acquires full ownership of Kalinga Lancers, a team based in Odisha - CNBC TV18". CNBCTV18. 4 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Hero Hockey India League 2014: Results Handbook" (PDF). Hockey India League. 23 February 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  4. ^ "Hero Hockey India League 2015: Results Handbook" (PDF). Hockey India League. 22 February 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  5. ^ "Coal India Hockey India League 2016: Results Handbook" (PDF). Hockey India League. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  6. ^ "Kalinga Lancers crowned the Champions of Coal India Hockey India League". Hockey India League. 27 February 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  7. ^ "Hero Hockey India League 2024-25 (Men's): Results Handbook" (PDF). Hockey India. 1 February 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  8. ^ "Kalinga Lancers for hockey league launched". The Times of India. 19 November 2013. Archived from the original on 26 November 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  9. ^ "From Kalinga to Birsa Munda: A Look at the Venues Hosting World's Best Hockey Teams". CNN-News18. 8 January 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Kalinga Hockey Stadium". Government of Odisha. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  11. ^ "Vedanta Kalinga Lancers - Players". Hockey India. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  12. ^ a b c "Vedanta Kalinga Lancers - Team Staff". Hockey India. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  13. ^ "Jay Stacy appointed Kalinga Lancers head coach for Hockey India League". 16 September 2025. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  14. ^ "Hockey India League: Kalinga Lancers appoint Pascal Kina as technical and strategy coach". Odisha TV. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Kariappa BJ - Assistant Coach of Vedanta Kalinga Lancers". Firstpost. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  16. ^ "Hockey India League: Kalinga Lancers appoint David John as Strategy Director and AB Subbaiah as Team Manager". Firstpost. 13 October 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
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