International Hockey Roundtable
Pierre-Édouard Bellemare to captain French Olympic qualifying team
© Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports - Pierre-Édouard Bellemare to captain French Olympic qualifying teamThe French Ice Hockey Federation named its roster for the upcoming Olympic qualifying tournament on Monday. The list of 25 players includes seven from the domestic Ligue Magnus, five from Switzerland’s National League, four from the Czech Extraliga, two from the Finnish Liiga and one each from the NHL, AHL, KHL, German DEL, Swedish HockeyAllsvenskan, and Slovak Liga.
Captain Pierre-Édouard Bellemare, who played last season for the Seattle Kraken, is currently without a team. The NHLer is Alexandre Texier of the St. Louis Blues, while Washington Capitals prospects Pierrick Dubé, a forward, and Antoine Keller, a goalie, are also on the squad.
Bellemare is also the team’s oldest player at 39, followed by 36-year-old Sacha Treille. Treille’s older brother Yorick – a former French national team player himself – is the head coach, with assistants Cristobal Huet, Éric Blais and Ivano Zanatta. Alternate captains are veterans Yohann Auvitu and Stéphane Da Costa.
The French last qualified for the Olympics in 2002. Their best finish since the 1920s was when they reached the quarterfinals at home in Albertville in 1992. Philippe Bozon was on both of those teams but no one on the current French squad has ever played in the Olympics.
Slovenia and Ukraine are certainly beatable opponents, so it wouldn’t be the biggest shock ever if the French win Group E this weekend in Riga, but the Latvians will be very difficult to beat on home ice in front of their famously passionate fans.
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