Gap and JYP, come and get it!

Gap made history last season by recording the first win for a French team in the Champions Hockey League when they beat Berlin 3-1, and their home form was good in both games – only losing to the ZSC Lions by a single goal in their other game in their rink. JYP are, however, a different challenge altogether, having qualified out of the group in both of their previous CHL seasons. 

"For us, the visit of the Jyvaskyla club is a great opportunity to confront us at the top European level. JYP is a team that has a great collective force, working very hard and played with a very big intensity – common qualities with Luciano Basile, our team's coach," said Gap GM Sebastien Oprandi. "Finnish hockey is based on puck-possession with many set plays and a lot of speed. This promises to be a good show for our fans."

“Playing the Gap Rapaces will be a new experience for us. We haven’t met a French team for years but I guess there are many American- and Canadian-born players in the team, so their approach and tactical aspects will be more North American," added JYP's Marko Virtanen. "Our equipment manager’s son played in Gap a couple of years ago, so maybe he’ll give us some tips!”