The Kruize family is one of the most notable hockey families of the Netherlands. The brothers and sister of Roepie Kruize all played hockey, his sister making it to the Dutch women’s team. Roepie himself also played internationally, winning 56 caps. In these matches, he scored 69 goals for an impressive average of 1.21 goals per match. Nationally, he played for Laren and later for HHIJC (The Hague). That team’s playing style, inspired by the hockeyers from India, had a large influence on Dutch hockey and was well represented in the Dutch national team. Kruize played in two Olympics, winning bronze in 1948 and silver in 1952. He missed a third Olympics because of the Dutch boycott of the 1956 Games. His brother Gerrit did play in Melbourne - having emigrated to the United States, he played for the U.S. team. Kruize’s three sons, Hans, Hidde and Ties all played for the Dutch national team as well, and Roepie Kruize had a brief spell as the national team coach in 1968.
Netherlands