Dragons de Rouen visited TPS

A French team, Dragons de Rouen, visited Turku and TPS for the second year running in February 2020.

The visiting team consisted of twenty five players born in 2007 and 2008 – in France, the two combine to make one age group in ice hockey. The team was here mainly to enjoy the TPS holiday week training camp, but managed to fit in many activities and games in the week.

Having arrived in Turku on Sunday evening, and training hard for the first hockey camp day, the team was invited, along with all accompanying adults, to the Monday night Liiga (championship level) game between TPS and HPK from Hämeenlinna. One player got to participate in the slapshot game on the ice on the second intermission, winning it.

Another lucky one got to drop the opening puck of the game. (Picture: HC TPS)

The Dragons group was also visited by Zach Budish, a star forward, who was currently unable to play. The Dragons players swarmed the star so intensely for pics and autographs that the actual questions and answers remain between Zach and the Dragons.

Tuesday night meant ice swimming (without ice, due to the strange winter this year) was in the books, Wednesday, practice games against VG62 in Naantali.

Then, on Thursday night, TPS08 played Dragons in two friendly games at the Impivaara ice rink. Both games were carried by Rouen – the first clearly and the latter with a smaller margin, as the home team that was assembled from all levels (A to AA, even some AAA players) thawed out and the passes started finding their way to the intended recipients. Rouen played with two rosters, one for each game, TPS with one. Dragons players showed impressive skating and stickhandling skills. A great time was had by everyone. Congratulations to the winners!

Plotting tactics. (Picture: Anna Borodina)

Eager to play hockey. (Picture: Anna Borodina)

That one's mine! (Picture: Anna Borodina)

The games were considered good fun and a great experience by all involved. Playing against international teams is always something extra. TPS08 was not able to attend the Dragons’ tournament at the end of December – to which we were kindly invited – but we certainly hope for the reciprocal visits to become a regular event in both teams’ calendars.

Merci beaucoup de votre visite, à l’année prochaine! (Picture: Anna Borodina)