Photo credit: Le Dauphine (www.ledauphine.com)

Fresh from winning one national hockey competition, Francis Drolet said is now looking towards another, this time in the Australian Ice Hockey League.

Drolet, a 29-year-old Canadian from Quebec, has spent the last season in the picturesque mountain village of Briançon, in the French alps.

Briançon is now home to a Ligue Magnus team, with the Red Devils being promoted out of Division I and into France’s elite national league.

For his part in this season, Drolet recorded 13 goals and 27 assists for 40 points from only 26 games, and kept up his production during the finals with 15 points from 12 games.

“I’ve had a pretty crazy week so far celebrating and preparing for my experience down under,” Drolet said.

Drolet is one of three all new imports the Newcastle Rescue Northstars have recruited for the 2019 season. The trio will join returning import Sammy Banga.

Drolet’s back history is similarly well-credentialed, with a point per game (PPG) record in the SPHL and 8 games in the East Coast Hockey League on call up. Prior to going pro in the SPHL, Drolet played 81 games of college hockey with NCAA Division 1 Brown University.

“I played with an unbelievable group of guys throughout my four years at Brown,” he said.

“I was studying Economics on a great campus with professors that are top qualifiers to teach in the USA and beyond.

“The level of hockey there [Brown University] was great, lots of players I played with had the talent to reach the NHL which made it fun and challenging to earn your playing time.”

Northstars general manager Garry Doré said Drolet was an “outstanding player that fits right into our program”.

“He’ll bring a lot to our team,” he added. “Hopefully he’ll have a really good time in Australia.”

Drolet is keen to experience Australia.

“I’m looking forward to see Australia and especially Newcastle, as I’ve heard good things about them,” he said.

“Learning how to surf is definitely in my plans and so is enjoying everything else that the place and the people have to offer.

“Obviously meeting the team and trying to create something together to win is also in the plans.”

Fans will be able to see Drolet in action for the Northstars’ first game of the season on April 27 when the team take on the Sydney Bears at Hunter Ice Skating Stadium

For tickets, call (02) 4954 4499 or head to Hunter Ice Skating Stadium.

Le Dauphine have covered Francis's move to Australia here.