The Rouen Dragons of France have been one of the stand-out performers of the 2021/22 season of the Champions Hockey League. Despite dropping out of the Quarter-Finals on Tuesday to Tappara Tampere, the reigning Ligue Magnus champions became the first-ever French team to make it this far in the CHL.
We caught up with Canadian forward Andrew Johnston after the game to talk about not only the 0-4 loss to Tappara, but their entire CHL season.
We tried really hardAndrew Johnston
“I’m just disappointed, “started Johnston, „I wanted a better game out of us. We tried really hard, but we just couldn’t generate enough offense “
Rouen held CHL veterans Tappara 3-3 in the First Game in Finland, in a game in which Johnston scored and assisted a goal, and were in amazing form on the night, but come the Return Game in France, Rouen just couldn’t keep the puck long enough to trouble Tappara.
What made Tappara such a tough opponent for them?
“Their composure, their compete level, their battle in the corner – there’s a lot,” said Johnston, who ends the season on 2G and 4A.
“They were always all over us and their physical play was hard for us to combat.”
Despite their CHL season coming to an end, Rouen had some fairy tale moments in 2021/22 – often regarded as a dark horse, they finished second in very competitive Group G, securing their spot in a two-way race on the final Group Stage Game Day.
In the Round of 16 they faced a very strong and favourited Red Bull Salzburg. But even this staple of Austrian hockey wasn’t enough to stop Rouen.
I’m really proud of our guysAndrew Johnston
“We didn’t start the season great, but we built momentum as a team.”
“The whole experience has been amazing – beating Salzburg, playing great against Tappara in Finland in the First Game and setting ourselves up for the game at home.”
“I’m really proud of our guys, this was a great run for Rouen and French hockey.”
“Of course, it would have been exciting to move on, but credit to Tappara who were a really good opponent in both games,” concluded Johnston.