Franck Cadonna will lead the French team as captain at the Group C World Championship Bangkok 2022 ⒸFranck Madonna
With the support of the French Ice Hockey Federation, France will field a team at a World Para Ice Hockey event for the first time next month. It will be one of six teams that will compete in the third edition of the Group C World Championship from December 6-11 in Bangkok, Thailand, along with Armenia, Austria, Great Britain, Kazakhstan, and the host country.
The event will be a round-robin tournament, in which the best ranked will advance to Group B for the next season.
France is expected to bring a 13-person team led by captain Franck Madonna and has been rapidly building its program since hosting a “Discovery of Para Ice Hockey” event in April 2021 organized in Angers by the French Hockey Federation. on Ice, the Regional League and local clubs.
In an interview, Captain Cadonna explains how France is developing Para ice hockey.
When and why did you start playing Para ice hockey?
I played ice hockey for 17 years as an able-bodied player before my accident. My old hockey team invited me one day to a training session to discover Para ice hockey. I immediately started enjoying the game again.
When and how did France start to have a Para ice hockey team?
The French team is officially one year old. The federation has been working on the project for two years, but unfortunately, Covid-19 delayed the first official call.
What are the goals of the French team for the Group C World Championship?
The goal of the French team is to reach Group B in their first World Championship. We will do everything possible to meet the goal of the French Ice Hockey Federation.
Who are some of the best French team players to watch and why?
The French team is made up of a very homogeneous group of players. We still have a lot to learn and we will give our best during this championship.
What is your role as a team captain?
My role is to be the link between the staff and the players; make sure the group stays together throughout the tournament and bring my experience as a hockey player to the table.
Even if the Summer Games are held in Paris in 2024, does hosting the Paralympic Games also contribute to the promotion of Paralympic winter sports in France?
Of course, Paralympic winter sports are associated with us on the national scene. The tools and resources put in place for development by the CPSF (French Paralympic Sports Committee) benefit all French Para sports.
What do your training sessions consist of and how often does the team meet?
The French team meets very rarely. We try to find tracks where we can come together and work together. Most of the work is done in our respective clubs.
More information about Bangkok 2022 can be found here.
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