After almost six months to the day of interruption, the Dragons are back at the Guy-Boissière ice rink for their first friendly match at home against Angers, Friday September 18, 2020.
We will never know if Rouen, runner-up to Grenoble at the end of the regular season, could have reached the final and won a 15th Magnus Cup.
Definitely interrupted by the health crisis linked to Covid-19 on March 16, 2020 just before the semi-finals, the 2019/2020 season has in fact chosen no winner.
It is therefore more determined than ever and with a fierce desire to do battle that the Dragons returned to the ice in Angers on September 8, 2020 for a preparatory meeting, Dukes they will face again this Friday, September 18 2020 for their first outing at home, in a friendly.
The opportunity for the public, deprived of training because of strict sanitary protocol, to discover a workforce reshaped to North American consonance (in black and yellow jersey on the photo).
To compensate for the departure of defenders Kevin Dusseau (Angers), Atte Mäkinen (return to Finland), Chad Langlais (Gap) and Matthieu Roy (professional retraining), forwards Nicolas Ritz and Maurin Bouvet (Angers), Bastien Maïa (Finland), Julien Msumbu (Mulhouse) and goalkeeper Gaëtan Richard (Bordeaux), the Rouen Hockey Elite 76 has resolutely set sail for North America.
Experience and training
Apart from the very prolific Latvian striker Rolands Vigners, who arrived from Mulhouse, coach Fabrice Lhenry, who is filling for the 6th consecutive season (a record in Rouen!), Will be able to draw on the valuable experience of Canadian striker Jacob Lagacé, American forward Greg Squires (still stranded in the United States awaiting validation of his passport) and Canadian defenders Mark Flood and Maxim Lamarche.
In view of the uncertainty linked to the health crisis, the leaders have also played the card of caution this season by also favoring in-house training.
The 19-year-old prodigy Valentin Duquenne will assist the Slovenian Matija Pintaric in the cage. Young attackers Bastien Zago, Quentin Tomasino and Théo Guérif will complete the 4th offensive line, as will defender Enzo Cantagallo, who started out for the first time.
Strict health protocol
Due to the active circulation of the virus, the 15 Magnus Cup club had to implement a strict protocol.
Additional entrances as well as a direction of circulation have been created to avoid the gathering of the public outside and inside the sports arena.
The temperature will be taken at the entrance to the rink and the wearing of a mask will be compulsory during the match.
Boxes, grandstand and cube
Spectators who will be able to attend the matches during the season will discover on September 18, 2020 the extension of the ice rink financed by the Rouen Normandie Metropolis.
This new space, erected on the Seine side and covered with gold cladding in the colors of the club, includes additional boxes and a public stand.
Not to mention the much-anticipated cube-shaped lighted bulletin board suspended above the ice and on which spectators will soon see faces of familiar supporters …
Note that Rouen will also receive Amiens, Tuesday September 22, 2020, at 8 p.m. A final preparatory meeting before the official launch of the Synerglace League Magnus championship, Saturday, September 26, 2020, at Île Lacroix, opposite Bordeaux.
Useful information
Rouen-Angers (friendly)
Friday September 18, 2020, at 8 p.m.
Guy-Boissière skating rink, avenue Jacques-Chastellain
All the information on the ticket office on the Rouen Dragons website
Photo credit: Théo Bariller-Krine
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