This Saturday at 7:15 PM, Nice Hockey hosts Val Vanoise for the 15th day of Division 1. The Eagles, struggling since their last two matches, are determined to get back on track and not waste a thunderous start to the season.
At home, Stan Sutor’s men are coming off a defeat (0-4) against Anglet and hope to reconnect with victory against the new entrant in Division 1. The first-leg match was not a guaranteed win, quite the opposite. Val Vanoise tried everything to earn points. During the match, Nice took the lead twice, and Val Vanoise equalized twice. Ultimately, the Eagles secured a 5-3 victory thanks to a better-managed third period.
For the reception of the promoted team, coach Stan Sutor explains that the team has prepared well for the event: “We’ve worked a lot this week because we’re in a bit of a rough patch, especially physically. When we don’t finish the matches properly, we lose in overtime, so we’ve been working hard since the beginning of the week. Last night, we eased up a bit, did some plays to clear our heads. We must not waste the work done since Monday.”
There’s no talk of a crisis in Nice, far from it, but they must not let points slip away again, especially against the 11th in the championship. Note: last December 13, more than 700 plush toys were thrown onto the Jean Bouin ice rink for the “Teddy Bear Toss.” It’s a ritual from Canada where, at the approach of Christmas, hockey game spectators throw teddy bears onto the ice when the first goal of the match is scored. Unfortunately, Nice will not be repeating the experience this year.
This weekend, an overseas club, the Calgary Hitmen, set a record by collecting 28,815 plush toys. They will then be given to sick children or parents who cannot afford Christmas gifts for their children.
Kevin Chifflet
