Not long ago, in 2016, fewer than one in ten hockey players in France were female, a situation comparable to that in Quebec. Since then, a feminization plan by the French Hockey Federation has increased the quota to over 13% in 2022, with 2,871 licensees out of a total of 21,903.
Chloé Aurard, who plays with the New York team in the Professional Women's Hockey League, will likely have a replacement soon.
• Also read: A pioneer for ice hockey in France
“If I had a message for young female hockey players in France, it would be to believe in their dreams,” Aurard said. With this new league anything is possible. If they want to go to the United States, I encourage them to do so without fear of obstacles.”
Chloé Aurard, player of the New York team, in the LPHF. MARTIN ALARIE / AGENCE QMI / LE JOURNAL DE MONTRÉAL
Concurrent with Aurard's rise, there are currently two French hockey players in the NHL, Alexandre Texier with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Pierre-Édouard Bellemare with the Seattle Kraken.
In total, there are a dozen French-affiliated players who have played at least one game in the NHL, including some naturalized French Quebecers, Paulin Bordeleau and Michel Galarneau.
Antoine Roussel at the helm
Antoine Roussel, now retired, remains the top scorer among all Frenchmen who have played at least one game in the NHL. He played for the Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks and Arizona Coyotes between 2013 and 2022. He collected 197 points, including 85 goals, in 607 regular season games.
Antoine Roussel, in the Canucks uniform, in March 2021. Photo Martin Chevalier / Le Journal de Montréal
“Obviously my dream of playing in the NHL is growing up there, in France, it touches me, it has sentimental value to me,” he said of the health of hockey in his home country. A girl like Chloé Aurard and guys like Texier or Bellemare will always bring grist to the mill.
Sébastien Bordeleau, Philippe Bozon, Xavier Ouellet, Yohann Auvitu, Stéphane Da Costa, Pat Daley and André Peloffy were also born in France, as was former Montreal Canadiens goaltender Cristobal Huet.
“When I was younger, I looked at Cristobal Huet and thought that guy could be me,” agreed the man who moved to Quebec with his family in his youth. It is important to have role models. Chloe is for young girls. I also know that the French federation is doing good work for the development of women’s hockey.”
Top scorers among French hockey players in NHL history:
Antoine Roussel – 197
Pierre-Édouard Bellemare – 136
Sebastien Bordeleau – 98
Paulin Bordeaux – 89
Alexandre Texier – 65