Rouen opens Continental Cup Superfinals powerfully

11 Jan 2013 | Davide Tuniz

Defending champions takes first 3 points thrashing Bolzano Foxes

Current champion Rouen opens Continental Cup Superfinals taking key three points against the possibly "easier" opponent, Italian champion Bolzano Foxes. In 2009 during home Superfinals Bolzano won 3-1 against French team excluding the possibility of a final success for the home team . It was long ago: last year Rouen won its first and most important international trophy beating favourite Donbas Donets'k in an amazing final game.
Dragons get off Ukraine without the Swedish defender Johan Akerman (knee injury) but the lines changed quickly found their chemistry. Bolzano had a stunning record of consecutive victories in Italian Serie A since the sign of Stanley Cup winner Niklas Hjalmarsson, but following the end of lock-out, the Chicago Blackhawks defender was back in USA and the team noticeably suffered with the loss, besides a thin roster, bolstered - as in Semifinal round - by Canadian defender Troy Barnes and Swedish forward Pontus Moren, both from farm-team Pergine but with the notable absence of injured Christian Walcher. After a post hit by MacGregor Sharp, Rouen takes the lead and scores twice in the first period with its leaders Marc-Andre Thinel and Julien Desrosiers, while goalie Fabrice Lhenry closes the period with a great save on Mark McCutcheon. In the second period Rouen increases the score with two goals in power play by David Fredriksson and Francois-Pierre Guenette and with the fifth goal by Loup Benoit. Bolzano changes the goalie Tomas Duba with back-up Gunther Hell and hits the second post with Marco Insam. Lhenry again seals the period with an amazing save on Peter Wunderer. At 52.03 finally Bolzano unfreezes its score with Markus Gander after the last goal of the game, scored - again in power play - by Francois-Pierre Guenette. Five out of the six goals were scored by the Rouen first line, as in the last year the best weapon for Garnier's troop.
Best player: Fabrice Lhenry (Rouen Dragons), Christian Borgatello (HC Bolzano)