A “Wind of Change” could be the best way to summarize the outcome of the season in France. No Scorpions
involved here but Pirates from Lyon who have just won the national
title by defeating Tigres du Grésivaudan in a tight final game.
This was actually the first final ever for those teams
from Lyon and Grenoble, two cities located close two the French Alpes,
1h drive from each other. Both defeated a Parisian favourite in
semi-final and doing so, they already wrote a little piece of history as
there had always been a team from Paris running for the title, whether
PUC or IFK.
The Tigres first earned their place by winning a thrilling game against PUC that ended in overtime after 9 minutes and 59 seconds (7-6)! In the other semi, the Pirates implemented a perfect defensive tactical plan that allowed them to control IFK Paris’ best offensive squad of the regular season: 2-1.
The final turned out be another very close fight
between the two unexpected teams, with Pirates catching up with every
goal scored by the Tigres and taking the lead finally, two minutes
before the end and 4-3 was the final score.
- The French Federation congratulates Lyon Pirates
for their first title. The National Championship is a flagship that
illustrates the positive and promising evolution of our sport in France,
both in numbers and quality, and it gives us all a lot of energy and
motivation to keep working on floorball expansion, says a happy President, Mr. Jérôme Joaille.
Lyon Pirates in the EFC Qualifications
Lyon Pirates will then represent France in
EuroFloorball Cup Qualifications and will of course try to hold the
national trophy next season against an even tougher set of contestants.
Division 1 will indeed be joined by Phoenix de Wasquehal and Sentinelles
de Strasbourg who also played their Division 2 play-off games in
Tourcoing this weekend. The Phoenix end their first season in the League
with an impressive record of 14 victories out of 14 games. They are
young, fast and skilful and will clearly challenge the traditional
members of the top league next year.
Best players awarded
The award ceremony gave the opportunity to celebrate
one more time the Valkyries, champions of the first Women Championship
ever organised in France, and to honour the best players of the season:
• D2 top scorer, assists and points: Thibault Van Nedervelde (Phoenix de Wasquehal)
• D1 top scorer: Manaüre Russo-Mendoza (Marseille Rascasses)
• D1 top assists: Gustav Stahl (Tigres du Grésivaudan)
• D1 top points: Linus Davidsson (IFK Paris)
• D2 top scorer, assists and points: Thibault Van Nedervelde (Phoenix de Wasquehal)
• D1 top scorer: Manaüre Russo-Mendoza (Marseille Rascasses)
• D1 top assists: Gustav Stahl (Tigres du Grésivaudan)
• D1 top points: Linus Davidsson (IFK Paris)
More information on www.floorball.fr
Source de l'article: Fédération Internationale de Floorball - IFF - www.floorball.org
