A night training

Fans welcoming Dragons on ice

Rouen needs 14 seconds and one shot to open the score against the modest Kremenchuk, the shot of the captain, slightly deflected, beats a surprised Danylo Yeliseyev, tonight in the net for the Ukranians. The goalie redeems himself after 4 minutes saving on Koudys with a good reflex and at 5 diving to stop Sacha Treille. Same Treille is more accurate at 06:32 netting a pass from Guenette. Another two great saves by Yeliseyev on Thinel and Lamperier are the prelude for third goal, scored by Florian Chakiachvili. Kremencuk already changes the goalie, with Mikhail Shevcuk on ice. After 10 minutes the game is practically over and no one understand why Kremenchuk, a team probably fighting against the relegation in French second division, gained a bye from IIHF to enter in the competition at semifinals stage. The fourth goal scored by Thinel, despite the tentative to sweep away the puck from the goal line by Zhovnir, confirms all the concerns. Finally Kremenchuk gains the first real chance at 12 on counterattack, with the point-blank shot by Boikov stopped by Sabourin. At 16 Karpenko gains and scores a penalty shot despite the tentative of save of Sabourin. Also the second period is nothing more than a training session for the Dragons: after an incredible mistake by Labelle, missing the net wide open and a good chance on counterattack wasted by Boikov, the score changes at 26:28 when Tero Konttinen controls a pass from Arrossamena and with class finds the upper angle of Shevcuk net. At 30:50 coach Lhenry gives the emotion of debut in an European competition for young back-up Quentin Papillon, suddenly busy blocking a shot from Lysak for the joy of fans that can continue to celebrae in the following action, finished by Sacha Treille with an angled shot with no chances for Shevcuk. A couple of good saves by Papillon and a post hit by Manavian close the central period. One minute in the first and Loic Lamperier is alone in front of Shevcuk and can’t miss the opportunity: puck between the legs and 7-1 Rouen shorthanded. Kremenchuk scores the first two goals on action at 42:23 with Timur Gritsenko and at 51:08 with Ivan Pidgursky, the latter courtesy of a mistake of Dame-Malka.

the third goal for Kremenchuk, scored by Ivan Pidgursky

At 56 fans pay tribute to Papillon for a brilliant save on Korenchuk and a series of rebounds in the last two minutes, played by Kremenchuk on power play.

And easy victory for the home team waiting for the game against Soligorsk, certainly a tougher test and a decisive battle, assuming Tychy will win tomorrow against this modest Kremenchuk

MVP: Ilya Korenchuk – Marc-Andrè Thinel

Tweets by @eurohockey