This Saturday, the Diamond Helmet is played at Thonon-les Bains’ Joseph-Moynat Stadium.
After having defeated in extremeis the Blue Stars of Marseille in Marseille, the Black Panthers of Thonon qualified for the final.
The Thononais are still in a positive mood. The Chablaisiens are now 11 league winners, despite a loss at the beginning of the season.
The Ile-de-France Flash de La Courneuve were their opponents. They are ten-time French champions. However, they qualified quicker by beating the Cougars de St-Ouen-l’Aumone (34-52) in the semi-finals. The Black Panthers were the net winner in the first match (35-0), but the Flash lost the second match at the Joseph Moynat stadium in Thonon (38-21), on June 11.
Both the paths of the finalists crossed at the CEFL European Cup in Mai, where they reached the quarter-finals. This Franco-French duel was won by La Courneuve (42-27)
Even though they are the current champions, the Black Panthers of Thonon won’t be the favorites to start at the 26th edition Diamond Helmet. The French championship was won by the Haut-Savoyards in 2019, who were also winners in 2013 and 2014. This was before the two-year interruption caused by the pandemic.
The Black Panthers will be relying on the expert coaching of Larry Legault from Canada, the runs by American Akiva Wedge, Nicolas Khandar and the throws of quarterback Brett Hunchak to his receivers Dayres Dayres Durand, Dessaux and Sarteel, as well as the defense of Timon Debiez. Benjamin Mulindahabi’s tackles and the points at their feet could be crucial.
