Hello, next september I will be going on an 8 month (academic year) exchange to France (at the University of Strassbourg). I am hoping to go to as many hockey games as possible in france, italy, switzerland and germany. I am fluent in french, and my italian is moderate and improving. I have only basic german. Will this be OK to find my way to games? because (I think?) in italy/switzerland, and eastern france most of the hockey fans are german speaking.
will there be students at the university who are hockey fans who can help me? or is it too small to be noticed?
any other tips on going to hockey games in western Europe would be nice.
Hello, next september I will be going on an 8 month (academic year) exchange to France (at the University of Strassbourg). I am hoping to go to as many hockey games as possible in france, italy, switzerland and germany. I am fluent in french, and my italian is moderate and improving. I have only basic german. Will this be OK to find my way to games? because (I think?) in italy/switzerland, and eastern france most of the hockey fans are german speaking.
will there be students at the university who are hockey fans who can help me? or is it too small to be noticed?
any other tips on going to hockey games in western Europe would be nice.
thanks
In the region you got the Etoile Noire de Strasbourg, a top division French hockey club, but for good hockey you can go to Bern (200 km south) which has an enormous crowd (biggest average attendance in Europe, second if you include Russia) and a very good team. In Germany you've got Adler Mannheim, a middle-class DEL team 100 km north.
So in conclusion, Etoile Noire de Strasbourg is local and not a very good team
Adler Mannheim ain't too far and has a good team and a good arena
SC Bern is a bit far (for us Europeans), but it has a splendid team and some of the best fans in Europe
Hello, next september I will be going on an 8 month (academic year) exchange to France (at the University of Strassbourg). I am hoping to go to as many hockey games as possible in france, italy, switzerland and germany. I am fluent in french, and my italian is moderate and improving. I have only basic german. Will this be OK to find my way to games? because (I think?) in italy/switzerland, and eastern france most of the hockey fans are german speaking.
will there be students at the university who are hockey fans who can help me? or is it too small to be noticed?
any other tips on going to hockey games in western Europe would be nice.
thanks
You'll probably find easily some fans in Strasbourg, they just lost in Ligue Magnus (elite) final vs Rouen. 2nd overall, that's their best ranking ever.
ok thanks. my application was accepted in march, so I will be in Strasburg by next september. can't wait to see some western European hockey! hopefully I can get some jerseys and maybe an autograph
ok thanks. my application was accepted in march, so I will be in Strasburg by next september. can't wait to see some western European hockey! hopefully I can get some jerseys and maybe an autograph
You'll be disappointed by french hockey, the level is very bad. German and Swiss leagues are way better.
Yes, because he's never represented Canada at an Official IIHF event. As long has he's been registered with a French club and lived and played exclusively in France. If he plays for Canada for an IIHF event, he;ll have to live and play in France for 4 seasons before being eligible for France.
Yes, because he's never represented Canada at an Official IIHF event. As long has he's been registered with a French club and lived and played exclusively in France. If he plays for Canada for an IIHF event, he;ll have to live and play in France for 4 seasons before being eligible for France.
Does anyone know what are his intentions? If he would play for France, he had much better chances to make it into WHC etc.
French hockey is generally very Scandinavian in its outlook, i.e. emphasis on skills. Nothing to do with being lazy.
Often the level of Ligue Magnus is compared with the Danish and Norwegian elite leagues (i.e. Albank-ligaen and Get-Ligaen). In recent seasons, the Danish Albankligaen has undoubtedly been stronger than Ligue Magnus. This observation is partly based on exhibition game results, budgets, transfer patterns and studies of competitive balance. Ligue Magnus is indeed very unevenly balanced considering France's standing in the IIHF World Ranking system.
Last edited by habsprospects: 07-23-2011 at 10:32 PM.
Reason: Don't add signature to your post manually
Can anyone tell me the relative level of French league hockey when compared to Canadian junior hockey? Would it be equivalent to the CHL or would it be higher (minor pro) or lower (Junior A or Junior B)?
Can anyone tell me the relative level of French league hockey when compared to Canadian junior hockey? Would it be equivalent to the CHL or would it be higher (minor pro) or lower (Junior A or Junior B)?
Interesting question, would love to hear the answer.
A couple of years ago Morgan Nicholas played for France in the U-20's. France was relegated to Div 2 that year.
He also played for Dieppe Commandos of the Maritime Jr A League. He's now playing Senior A in New Brunswick.
He didn't make the UdeM team which is made up mostly of Major Jr players on scholarship and a sprinkling og Jr A grads.
Just one player.
Yeah I know no Euros allowed in CJHL. But Morgan is from St-Pierre et Miquelon and was attending Universite de Moncton and Hockey Canada deemed him a North American player.
Should mention he played for France in the U-18's as well and moved to mainland France for a year or 2 to be with the U-18's
