A craze for ice hockey was born in Dreux. With more than 1,200 people present in the bays of the ice rink, Saturday January 4, this sliding sport gave a few thrills to the admirers who came in large numbers to the Otium leisure park. Third match hosted in the space of a month and the observation is the same: stands filled from top to bottom.
“It’s promising for the start of our story” confesses Olivier Bartolot, president of the Monarques, an ice hockey club founded in 2024.
Friends, family and colleagues enjoy watching the D1 match. Aurélie (right) took her son Esteban, member of the Monarques team, to the ice rink so as not to miss this new D1 match on Drouais soil. A family of enthusiasts. His dad, Alain, was close to the ice to provide medical assistance to the hockey players.
The Drouais responded to the offer from the City of Dreux which allowed them to attend this Division 1 match free of charge by invitation. The box was full. “I had a lot of requests. Many people wanted to come and watch this Division 1 match…” concedes the president of the Drouais club. Unfortunately, some were left behind.
The organization of these professional match meetings has allowed the club to continue welcoming new elements from the small and large Monarques.
“We will succeed in creating this culture of ice hockey step by step. We are starting on the right foot, it warms our hearts.”
For three matches, the loyal group of Neuilly-sur-Marne supporters, the Bisons sharpés (founded in 2010) have been setting the mood at the Dreux ice rink to encourage their team, 12th in Division 1. These enthusiasts are present at all the matches. meetings at home and some away. On the drum, it’s Mathieu (with glasses) who sets the tone, followed by his friend Jonathan on the megaphone (on the left). The duo captivated the Drouais public who came in droves to watch the match.
The reason for this third relocation of a match played by the Bisons of Neuilly-sur-Marne can be explained by a quality of ice still unsuitable for high-level sport within the Nocéens complex. This D1 match should be the last of the year in the Pays Drouais, because the Bisons setting should be at capacity within a few days…
Even though the holiday season is coming to an end, there is good news to note and highlight for hockey lovers. The Dreux ice rink will host the Final Square of the 2025 Federal Trophy in the leisure championship on the weekend of May 31 and June 1. The hockey players’ skates have not given their last squeals on the Drou ice…
