Baia Mare stock up on left wingers

HCM Baia Mare made their debut in the Women’s EHF Champions League this season and managed to sneak two wins in a very tough group, which featured Gyori ETO KC, Hypo Niederosterreich and Thüringer HC.

After their relatively successful first attempt in the competition, they are vying to come back stronger next year.

Currently lying first in the Romanian championship, five points ahead of second placed Corona Brașov, and with a great chance to win the title, Baia Mare are already planning for the next season. Last week, the Romanian team announced the signings of Camilla Herrem and Valentina Ardean-Elisei.

First foreign adventure

Norwegian left wing Herrem has left Norway for the first time in her career, after playing for Norwegian side Byasen EH for the last eight years.

The 27-year-old signed a two-year contract with HCM Baia Mare. Herrem, a two time EHF EURO winner and a gold medalist at both the World Championship and the Olympics, will join her new teammates in the summer.

“Bringing a top player to Baia Mare signals our serious intentions for the next season. We want to transform our team into a powerhouse, which will represent Romania at the highest level,” said Cătălin Cherecheș, Baia Mare’s mayor.

Herrem was not the only transfer that Baia Mare managed to confirm in the last week. The team’s officials have been busy and convinced Valentina Ardean-Elisei to sign a two-year contract with Baia Mare.

Elisei, 31, has been a free agent, after she ended her contract with CSM Cetate Devatrans. The left-wing, who also played for ZRK Knjaz Milos and reached the Women’s EHF Champions League’s final in 2010 with Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea, was also wanted by CSM Bucuresti, but chose to sign for Baia Mare.

She has already made her debut for the club, scoring five goals against her former team CSM Cetate Devatrans in Baia Mare’s 31:22 win.

“Baia Mare have big ambitions and I am proud to play for a team that wants to win,” said Elisei.