Where will they stop? The Jokers of Cergy-Pontoise, still in the second division two years ago, have a series of astounding performances. This weekend, the Ile-de-France hockey players won a historic qualification for the last four of the Magnus League playoffs. A victory acquired in a crazy atmosphere against Amiens in the sixth game (4-2). Wednesday evening, Jonathan Paredes’ team did it again on the Grenoble ice rink for the first round of the semi-final.
Opposite stood the big favorite, whom the Jokers have never beaten in four confrontations this season. And they came very close to the feat. Cergy-Pontoise center Pierre-Charles Hordelalay opened the scoring in the 22nd minute. An advantage retained for long minutes. Dominators all year – 35 wins in 44 games, the Brûleurs de Loups had been quick in the quarter against Bordeaux (4-0). In their lair, the Greens and Reds this time ran after the score for a long time. The equalizer came 20 seconds after the start of the last third through Damien Fleury. Hope was always possible. Both teams are sent to overtime. But Maxim Lamarche then crucified Cergy two minutes later (62nd minute).
We will have to do it again on Thursday evening, still in Isère, and hope to come back to score. Before hosting the third (Saturday, 8:30 p.m.) and fourth rounds (Sunday, 6 p.m.) at the Aren’Ice and its 3,000 spectators. It promises on the ice and in the stands.