WC: France at the 2010 World Championship

[Jagger Bomb]

I was just looking over the pools for the upcoming World Championships and one team comes to mind as a striking surprise... Team France qualified for the top level tournament. When was the last time France competed in the top level? I know their World Junior squad made it once or twice, but what about at the senior level? Is this a first in some time?

*
Group A: Russia, Belarus, Slovakia, Kazakhstan
*
Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Latvia, Italy
*
Group C: Sweden, Czech Republic, Norway, France.
*
Group D: Finland, USA, Germany, Denmark.


Any notable French players to keep an eye on throughout the tournament?

Click to read more...

 

[CanadaRules*]

Any notable French players to keep an eye on throughout the tournament?

St. Louis, Lecavalier, Pascal LeClaire, Bouillon, Riberio, Latendresse, maybe Bergeron??

 

[The Gourmet]

St. Louis, Lecavalier, Pascal LeClaire, Bouillon, Riberio, Latendresse, maybe Bergeron??

I hear Pierre Mcguire may be coaching.

 

[Brodie]

Huet after the Blackhawks lose in the first round.

 

[Jagger Bomb]

St. Louis, Lecavalier, Pascal LeClaire, Bouillon, Riberio, Latendresse, maybe Bergeron??

I hope your not serious lol..

 

[jekoh]

Team France qualified for the top level tournament. When was the last time France competed in the top level?

Last year.

They even reached the 2nd round.

 

[Jagger Bomb]

Wow.. pardon my ignorance, t'was a long night. On a side note, since I was digging all that up I noticed Australia made it to Div 1 last year, they've since been relegated but still impressive to see they are making strides

 

[Stripes]

I could be wrong, but isn't Patrice Brisebois eligible to play for France?

 

[jekoh]

I could be wrong, but isn't Patrice Brisebois eligible to play for France?

Has he played the mandatory 2 seasons in France? No? He's not eligible then (I'm assuming he is a Canadian citizen).

 

[v-man]

Has he played the mandatory 2 seasons in France? No? He's not eligible then (I'm assuming he is a Canadian citizen).

It's four seasons.

 

[Systemfel]

Is Brisebois even a French citizen? Haven't heard anything about it.

 

[jekoh]

It's four seasons.

It's four seasons if you have played for another country. I'm not sure he has

 

[IIHFjerseycollector]

going back to 1997 france's senior team has been in the top group in

97
98
99
00
04
08
09
10

 

[Jonas1235]

France actually has more registered hockey players than Norway, Slovakia, Latvia, Belarus and Denmark.

I think the quality of hockey in France is not that good though. They do like hockey and have produced at least one NHLer. I've seen some younger players have started to come over to the Qmjhl to play hockey also.

Another potential NHL player is 20 year old Stephan Da Costa who is in college playing for Merrimack. He has 44 points in 31 games in his freshman season. Pretty impressive.

http://eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=14394

 

[garbageteam]

Huet's the only notable, and he's not really that much of a notable. If the Hawks get swept we'll see him play..maybe..

 

[IIHFjerseycollector]

phillipe bozon?

http://hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=540

 

[Stripes]

I remember when Brisebois had a falling out with the Habs a few years ago when he was supposedly injured and spend his "rehab time" in France for some reason. I can't remember him representing Team Canada, so he wouldn't have to play 4 years there to become eligible if he does have French citizenship.

 

[Franck]

I'm not 100% sure, but I believe Bruins prospect Max Sauvé is eligible to play for France.

 

[jekoh]

I remember when Brisebois had a falling out with the Habs a few years ago when he was supposedly injured and spend his "rehab time" in France for some reason. I can't remember him representing Team Canada, so he wouldn't have to play 4 years there to become eligible if he does have French citizenship.

Not four, but he would still have to play two.

 

[Stripes]

The rule is 4 years and only if you've represented another national team from the age of 18 and up (I believe that is the age). If Brisebois hasn't represented Canada over that age, and if he has French citizenship, he would be eligible.

 

[jekoh]

The rule is 4 years and only if you've represented another national team from the age of 18 and up (I believe that is the age). If Brisebois hasn't represented Canada over that age, and if he has French citizenship, he would be eligible.

No he would not. He would still have to play 2 seasons in France. The rule is 4 years if you have played for another country, 2 years if you haven't.

 

[*Injektilo]

Bozon and Huet are the only two French-born players to have played in the NHL.

And yeah, people like to rag on Huet, but he's easily the best French-born player to have ever played the game.

 

[SirKillalot]

Are we really facing Sweden?

Epic!

 

[Systemfel]

Roster is up. No Stéphane Da Costa though.

http://stats.iihf.com/Hydra/230/IHM2300FRA_33_1_0.pdf

 

[CamDegs13]

Roster is up. No Stéphane Da Costa though.

http://stats.iihf.com/Hydra/230/IHM2300FRA_33_1_0.pdf

Weird.

Merrimack's hockey homepage says otherwise. But I don't know why he wouldn't be on that official roster.

http://www.merrimackathletics.com/sports/mice/2009-10/releases/20100504IIHF