Ice hockey: international Valentin Claireaux joins the Rouen Dragons
After donning the colors of Finland and the Czech Republic, the striker is making a comeback in France. Valentin Claireaux has just signed with the Dragons de Rouen, the leading team in the synerglace Magnus league. The Saint-Pierrais hopes to win the French championship.
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It is a decision carefully considered for Valentin Claireaux. The Saint-Pierrais wanted to integrate a team very motivated to win the French championship and it was chosen.
The striker is leaving Saint-Pierre and Miquelon on December 2 to join his new club, Rouen.
A return to his roots, in a way, because the 31-year-old hockey player studied in Amiens between 2009 and 2014, then a season in Angers (2015-2016). Among other things, he has to his credit five selections for the senior world championship (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019) and two qualifications for the Olympic Games (2013 and 2016).
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The hockey player will then have spent five seasons in Finland and three more in the Czech Republic in the 2nd division, two very high championships at European level.
After having had an international career for a little over eight years, this father of a little girl, has chosen to open another page of history, still sporting, but this time, within a Magnus League team. A return to France which will be, as Valentin Claireaux points out, “a real challenge“.
I wanted to join a team that can really win the championship because I didn’t have the chance to win the Magnus League championship, I left young and so that was an important factor. I think all the ingredients are there in Rouen.
Valentin Claireaux, attacker for the Rouen Dragons.
For Valentin Claireaux, it was important to “join a team of this caliber“. In parallel, he hopes for new selections in the France team from May 2023. In parallel, the striker also wishes to follow training to become an ice hockey coach.
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Find the full interview. Valentin Claireaux was the guest of Adrien Develay in the television news of SPM La 1ère this Sunday, November 20, 2022.