Spartiates de Marseille

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Spartiates de Marseille
Spartiates de Marseille 2016 logo.png
CityMarseille, France
LeagueDivision 1
2018-present
Founded2012
Home arenaPalais omnisports Marseille Grand-Est
Colours     
Owner(s)Jean-Claude Menn[1]
PresidentJonathan Zwikel[2]
Head coachLuc Tardif Jr.[3]
Websitewww.marseillehockeyclub.com
Franchise history
2012–2013Massilia Hockey Club
2013–2017Massilia Hockey Club
Les Spartiates
2017–present[4]Marseille Hockey Club
Les Spartiates

The Spartiates de Marseille (French for 'Marseille Spartans'), formally known as Marseille Hockey Club, are an ice hockey club based in Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France.[3] They are the 2020–21 Division 1 (second tier) champions, but were not promoted to the Ligue Magnus as promotions and relegations had been frozen due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3][5]

History[]

The club was established in April 2012 under the name Massilia Hockey Club —after Marseille's Latin name— to replace the city's historic in the French Division 3 (fourth tier) league, when the latter pulled out of competition due to financial problems.[3][6]

Successive promotions[]

In 2014, France international Luc Tardif Jr. retired from the Ligue Magnus at age 29, following a string of injuries.[7] Having gone through a coaching course during his time away from the ice, Tardif joined Marseille with an eye on a new career behind the bench, although he initially signed on as a player-coach, as the light Division 3 schedule allowed him to continue playing at an acceptable risk for the time being.[8][9]

The club finished the 2014–15 season as Division 3 runner-up and gained promotion to Division 2.[10] However it found it hard to compete at that level, narrowly avoiding relegation back to Division 3 in 2015–16. In reaction, Tardif retired from playing to focus on coaching full time, and the roster received a major overhaul, with most local players weeded out of the team in favor of recruits from more traditional hockey hotbeds.[11]

In 2017, the organization changed its name from Massilia Hockey Club to Marseille Hockey Club.[12] Meanwhile, a separate company was spun off from the amateur club to oversee the professionalization of its flagship team. Tardif was a founding minority shareholder as was his half-brother Jonathan Zwikel, who was also named president of the new entity. The team's main shareholder is Jean-Claude Menn, a Fribourg, Switzerland-based businessman.[1]

Despite being eliminated by in the quarterfinals of the 2018 Division 2 playoffs, Marseille was promoted to Division 1 as the only team willing to step up on short notice when the folding of Ligue Magnus team Gamyo d'Épinal created a domino effect that freed an additional promotion spot.[2][13]

Division 1 champions[]

Due to COVID-19, the 2020–21 Division 1 season was played under an abridged format, with two regional pools replacing the usual single conference setup, and a final four bringing together the two best teams from each pool in lieu of three-round, best-of-five playoffs.[14]
Marseille finished second in the East pool, before upsetting favorites and defeating Strasbourg in the final four to claim the Division 1 championship.[5] However, due to the competition's unconventional format, the French Ice Hockey Federation decided not to apply promotions and relegations for the 2020–21 season, forcing the club to compete in Division 1 again for the 2021–22 campaign.[3][5]

Trophies and awards[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Entreprise Marseille Hockey Club - MHC à Marseille (13010)". entreprises.lefigaro.fr. Figaro Emploi. 1 October 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b Branchu, Marc (October 2018). "Présentation de la D1 française 2018/19: Marseille". hockeyarchives.info. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Hockey sur glace : coup de projecteur sur ces Marseillais nouveaux champions de France de Division 1". france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr. France TV. 26 April 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Historique – Marseille". hockeyfrance.com. Fédération Française de Hockey sur Glace. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "Championnat de France 2020/21 : division 1". hockeyarchives.info. Marc Branchu. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  6. ^ Ferrari, Christine; Gaudence, Robert; David, Jean; Foulon, Pascal; Autié, Gérard. "Histoire du hockey sur glace à Marseille". hockeyarchives.info. Marc Branchu. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Pas de tournoi de Lyon pour Luc Tardif". ledauphine.com. Groupe EBRA. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  8. ^ Galinat, Arnaud (15 February 2015). "Luc Tardif Jr, le nouvel homme fort du Massilia Hockey Club". Ovnisports. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  9. ^ Revel, Stéphane (5 January 2018). "[Entretien] Luc Tardif Junior : 'Le hockey sur glace français est en pleine progression'". lamarseillaise.fr. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  10. ^ Lloret, Mathias (23 April 2015). "Luc Tardif : 'Je n'ai jamais connu un groupe aussi soudé'". laprovence.com. Groupe La Provence. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Présentation de la D2 française 2016/17". hockeyarchives.info. Marc Branchu. November 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  12. ^ "Annonce n° 210". Annexe au journal officiel de la République Française. Vol. 149, no. 5. Paris: Direction de l'information légale et administrative. 4 February 2017. p. 17.
  13. ^ "Le club de hockey marseillais s'invite en Division 1 dès la saison prochaine". madeinmarseille.net. Com in Marseille. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  14. ^ Launay, Frédéric (19 January 2021). "Hockey sur glace : la Division 1 et les Remparts de retour à partir du 30 janvier". lanouvellerepublique.fr. Groupe NRCO. Retrieved 3 November 2021.

External links[]

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