Ligue Magnus (France)

Named after a pioneer

Frenchman Louis Magnus was a key figure in early ice sports. He was a figure skater and sports administrator and in 1908 in Paris initiated the founding of the Ligue Internationale de Hockey sur Glace, from which today's IIHF emerged. He became its first president. France's top league is named after him, as is the championship trophy, the Coupe Magnus.

Format

The Ligue Magnus plays a regular season followed by playoffs for the title. At the bottom of the table there is promotion and relegation with the second division, Division 1, with economic criteria also playing a role. The federation also organises the Coupe de France as a cup competition, whose final often takes place in a large arena in Paris.

Well-known clubs

The most successful clubs of recent decades include teams from Rouen, Grenoble, Angers, Briançon and Chamonix. Traditionally, ice hockey in France is rooted in the Alps and in some cities in the north and west. Several teams play in lower leagues in Paris.

Ice hockey in France

France is not a classic ice hockey nation but has a solid base. The national team has played mostly in the top division of the World Championship for many years and co-hosted the 2017 World Championship with Germany, with games in Paris and Cologne. Some French players have made the jump to the NHL, such as Cristobal Huet and Pierre-Édouard Bellemare.

Style and players

The Ligue Magnus relies on French players, supplemented by imports from Canada, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. The level is below that of the DEL and the National League, but French clubs regularly take part in the Champions Hockey League.

Connection to the German-speaking region

The fact that the 2017 World Championship was co-hosted by France and Germany shows how close the two federations are. Players move between the leagues, and several French clubs are close to the Swiss border. For fans, a visit to Grenoble or Chamonix combines well with a holiday in the Alps.

Season

The Ligue Magnus season runs from September to April. Games take place mostly at weekends and midweek, with the playoffs in spring.

European cup successes

The Rouen Dragons are the most successful French club of recent times. They won the IIHF Continental Cup, a European club competition, and regularly appear in the Champions Hockey League. Grenoble and Angers have also played internationally.

French NHL pioneers

Cristobal Huet became the first Frenchman to win the Stanley Cup, with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010. Pierre-Édouard Bellemare played in the NHL for many years and reached the Stanley Cup Final with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2018. Both started their careers in France and went to North America via Europe.

Infrastructure

Many French arenas are smaller and older than in Germany or Switzerland. With the 2017 World Championship and plans for the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps, interest in new arenas is growing.

National team

France's national team has played mostly in the World Championship top division for years and is set to compete as host at the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps.

For young French talents, the Ligue Magnus is the most important place to gain professional experience.