A new ice hockey season kicks off for the Nice Eagles tonight at 8 PM against Strasbourg. This is an opportunity to discuss the club’s goals with Thomas Alliet, head of development.
You have been very active in the transfer market. Have you managed to balance your squad as you wanted?
Last year, the team was put together late. This year, we wanted to take our time. From mid-March, the staff focused on recruitment. We had 15 departures and 12 arrivals with two major goals. The first was to bring in players who would fit into the mindset we wanted to instill in the group, meaning hardworking elements who play for the team. The second aim was to make the group younger. Today, if we take the French group, we have nine who are under 23 years old with a strong potential, like Quentin Scolari (Grenoble) and Aurélien Dorey (Rouen) who have been trained in the largest clubs in France. As for foreign players, we retained the same core as last year while adding three Canadian players who will bring their culture of the game.
Three players ended their careers at the end of last season, but they don’t seem to have been replaced. Is this a decision from management?
Yes, it was a conscious decision. But among the players who ended their careers, only one will truly leave the team (Michael Quinn, who started a career as a firefighter in Canada). The other two, Aurelien Macon (former captain) and his assistant Stan Aubert, have simply stopped playing at a high level, but they will continue to be part of the group. They will have their place in the locker room to mentor the young players and step in if needed due to injury. Additionally, the coach’s son Alexis Sutor is returning to Nice after an experience in Slovakia.
After a difficult year last season, what is the objective for this season?
The goal is to secure a place in the Play-Offs—finishing 7th or 8th and, above all, having a more comfortable season than last year. The ambitions are higher with the potentials who have joined and who will have the opportunity to excel at the highest level.
How did the summer preparation go?
We were fortunate to start the preparation with a 10-day training camp abroad that really bonded the group. I would like to thank the Poprad club for welcoming us so well in Slovakia. There, we participated in the Spengler Cup (the oldest European cup). We performed rather well, finishing first in our group and reaching the final (loss in overtime). Then, we had a good Riviera Cup, winning our first two matches before losing again in the final against Poprad.
What will be your strengths this season?
Our collective will be our main asset. We don’t have a star, we don’t have a player who will score 40 goals in the championship. In the six preparation matches, we had eleven different scorers. The team is made up of four homogeneous lines. Everyone can really play their role.
Does not having a leader risk being a disadvantage in big matches?
Experience is what will speak for us. Perhaps some guys will emerge in big matches. We will see, but it’s interesting to have a homogeneous group, and we will rely on that this season. Afterwards, if the players need to refocus, it will happen naturally.
In your opinion, what is needed to promote hockey in Nice?
Currently, in the city, we have the second highest attendance for a season behind football. However, it’s true that we are far from having ideal exposure. This sport has transformed a lot due to the federation’s independence since the early 2000s. The next development would be the expansion of infrastructure. Our rink holds 1,000 seats. We can’t envisage being a major sport with such limited capacity. Currently, we are operating at 80% capacity, and the goal would be to reach 100% within 3 or 4 years to be able to request support from the city council and show them that hockey is gaining traction here. I think this is a realistically achievable goal fairly soon.
