Despite a great room for a friendly match of 2022 spectators, HC Ajoie did not manage to capsize the Porrentruy ice rink on Tuesday evening. For its first preparation match under the Filip Pesan era five weeks before the resumption of the National League, the Ajoulot hockey players lost heavily 5-0 against a fine team from Lausanne. The HCA had a very complicated start with two goals conceded (Damien Riat in the 8e and Robin Kovacs at the 13e) and three penalties conceded in a quarter of an hour of play. The second period was much better with Jurassians more aggressive but sterile offensively despite numerous opportunities for numerical superiority. Guillaume Asselin at the 27e then Reto Schmutz at 38e notably missed two face-to-face encounters with goalkeeper Ivars Punnenovs.
“There are still a lot of things to work on”, summed up the French defender Thomas Thiry at the end of the game, while Kevin Fey (repaired), Frédéric Gauthier (administrative situation being regularized), Jonathan Hazen (repaired), Ian Derungs and Gregory Sciaroni (injured) as well as Lilian Garessus (world U20) were absent. In a somewhat rough end to the match for a preparation meeting, the HCA collapsed and conceded three new goals from former Bienne Michaël Hügli (51st), Damien Riat in power-play (59th) then Robin Kovacs (60th). The Ajoulots will continue on Friday with the reception of Fribourg-Gottéron (7:00 p.m.). /jpi