Angers edge Gyergyói, punch ticket to Nottingham Superfinals

For the second consecutive home game, IceParc Arena delivered an impressive spectacle. The French crowd was vibrant, and the colorful Romanian supporters were welcomed with applause, creating a lively atmosphere.

The game began with Angers pressing hard to capitalize on their home advantage. Despite a couple of early dangerous attempts from Gyergyói, Angers struck first at 04:44 when Téo Sarlieve-Fonfraid capitalized on a defensive misplay, stealing the puck and finishing beautifully past Rasmus Rinne. Sarlieve had another excellent chance at minute 11, but Rinne denied him.

Angers doubled their lead at 13:37 with a swift counterattack finished by Orrin Centazzo. The goal followed a dangerous scoring chance by Gyergyói, showing the pace of the French transition game. By the end of the first period, Angers had 7 shots on goal compared to Gyergyói’s 10, but the home team’s efficiency was decisive. Gyergyói nearly reduced the deficit at 16 minutes when Tamás-Róbert Sárpátki faced Matt O’Connor but was stopped by the Angers goalie.

The second period saw Gyergyói dominate possession and outshoot Angers 15 to 3. Matt O’Connor was called upon repeatedly, making crucial saves to keep his team in the lead, while Rasmus Rinne faced only a few shots for Gyergyói. Despite their territorial advantage, the Romanians could not score, highlighting O’Connor’s outstanding performance, finishing with 32 saves on 33 shots, a 96.88% save rate, and earning Man of the Match honors.

Just 30 seconds into the final period, Konsta Mesikämmen finally found the net to bring Gyergyói back to 2–1, having been one of the few Romanian players to consistently threaten O’Connor. The pressure mounted as Gyergyói camped in Angers’ zone, leaving only occasional relief attempts for the home side. However, individual errors proved costly: Gyergyói captain Brance Orban was penalized for delaying the game, and the lethal French power play struck immediately. Jonathan Charbonneau set up Philippe Halley, who scored with a precise mid-range shot at 46:07, making it 3–1.

Gyergyói continued to push, even pulling their goalie, but could not find another goal. By the end of the game, Angers had outshot Gyergyói 13 to 32 overall, showing remarkable efficiency in converting their chances. Rinne finished with 13 saves on 16 shots, a 76.92% save rate, while Konsta Mesikämmen was named Gyergyói’s Man of the Match.

Standout performances for Angers included Orrin Centazzo (+2, 1 goal), Téo Sarlieve-Fonfraid (+2, 1 goal and 1 assist), and Kale Kerbashian (+2, 2 assists). Gyergyói’s notable contributors were Konsta Mesikämmen (1 goal), Brance Orban (1 assist, 2 PIM), and Dallas Gerads (1 assist).

The 3–1 victory secured Angers a place in the Superfinals in Nottingham this January, while Gyergyói, eliminated from contention, will face Mogo in the next match to avoid leaving France scoreless. Angers’ combination of solid defense, a lethal power play, and a standout goalie performance proved decisive, while Gyergyói’s relentless pressure was ultimately undone by untimely mistakes.

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