The objective is the one we know: to climb to the Ligue Magnus after last year’s disappointment when the Eagles missed the final step. The goal is clear and simple: Defeat Bordeaux in the first leg of the quarter-finals this Saturday at Jean Bouin, to approach the return match in Gironde next week with a psychological advantage, and even in the case of a loss, be able to play a decisive match the next day. Stan Sutor’s team is finally complete, and morale is at its best.
All the ingredients are in place for a gala evening, with fully packed stands thanks to the passion of the supporters who make this discipline the second sport in Nice after football: The average attendance for the regular season is over 900, which is satisfying.
“But no!” – says Alexandre Duyck, the club manager, with all the boldness of his 24 years old – “we need to go beyond and fill (editor’s note: capacity of 1,200 seats).
Nice Premium: The season was less brilliant than last year?
AD: Yes, that’s true, but we could only play with a full team two or three times this year. Now that the first qualifying phase is over, everything starts from scratch again. We have the ambition to go all the way.
NP: Bordeaux is a tough opponent…
AD: This year, we each have one victory in the championship. The match will be difficult; they are coming to win, but that is also our goal. We will fight to the end to succeed.
NP: The club has a relatively small budget. If promoted, do you think you will have the means to participate in a much larger competition?
AD: It’s true; our financial strength is far from being the primary element of our club. We have a volunteer structure, with only two employees, which is its strength. And the City Hall supports us even though we do not receive the subsidies of other sports clubs.
NP: The club is not just the first team…
AD: Far from it. Our 280 members are spread across 7 youth teams and 4 senior teams, including three in the leisure category.
NP: You field a team with 11 foreign players. Doesn’t that go against the Nice identity?
AD: Today, we are all Europeans, and our Slovak or Finnish recruits are no less involved in the club’s ambition than our local players. Hockey is a “poor” discipline from a financial point of view but rich in moral values.
NP: So “Go to win” for tonight against Bordeaux!
AD: We have a fierce desire to succeed!
