The Hockey Courchevel-Méribel-Pralognan (Les Bouquetins) are a French professional ice hockey team in Méribel, that plays in FFHG Division 1.
History Originally founded in 1964 as 'Pralognan-la-Vanoise', the ice hockey club played out of the second French league for its first nine years. In 1973 the third French league was founded with Pralognan-la-Vanoise becoming a founding member. The club remained with the league until 1980 when they won their first championship and earned a promotion back to the second league. The team didn't have much success after their return, having to save themselves in relegation four times over the next five years. However, in 1985, just before relegation was set to begin, the team withdrew from the league and announced their merger with Hockey Club Méribel. The combined team, called 'Tarentaise' remained in the second league for one season before being relegated in 1986. In 1990 the team merged with a third club, Courchevel, to form 'Hockey Club Val Vanoise'.
Val Vanoise had an up-and-down stretch throughout the 90s, avoiding relegation several times while also making a few appearances in the final group. In 2002, French hockey was reorganized and Val Vanoise was assigned to FFHG Division 1. Unfortunately, the team lost in relegation and ended up dropping all the way down to the fourth French league. It took a few years for Val Vanoise to recover but they were able to take advantage of an opening in Division 2 in 2009. In just six years, the club won its second championship and returned to Division 1. Two years later, Val Vanoise rebranded as Hockey Courchevel-Méribel-Pralognan (HCMP) referencing the three separate clubs that merged to form the current team. However, the name change didn't seem to do the team any favors as they were relegated in their first year under the new name.
Courchevel-Méribel-Pralognan was one of the top teams in Division 2. They finished as the league runners-up in both 2019 and 2024 and had opportunities for promotion on both occasions. In 2019, they were unable to accept due to financial constraints, however, they were able to return to Division 1 in 2024.
Season-by-season results Since 2010 Hockey Club Val Vanoise Season Finish Playoffs 2010–11 18 4 0 3 11 11 77 107 10th of 10, Group B16th of 20, Division 2Won Relegation Round-Robin, 2–1–2–1 2011–12 18 11 1 1 5 25 98 73 t-3rd of 10, Group Bt-5th of 20, Division 2Won First Round series, 15–11 (Jets d'Évry-Viry)Lost Quarterfinal series, 4–16 (Remparts de Tours) 2012–13 16 10 1 1 4 23 103 71 t-2nd of 9, Group Bt-4th of 18, Division 2Lost First Round series, 9–16 (Éléphants de Chambéry) 2013–14 16 9 5 2 0 30 95 58 1st of 9, Group A1st of 18, Division 2Won First Round series, 2–0 (Étoile Noire de Strasbourg)Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Sangliers Arvernes de Clermont-Ferrand)Lost Semifinal series, 0–2 (Remparts de Tours) 2014–15 16 15 - 0 1 30 106 45 1st of 10, Poule Bt-1st of 20, Division 2Won First Round series, 2–0 (Jets d'Évry-Viry)Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Taureaux de feu de Limoges)Won Semifinal series, 2–0 (Jokers de Cergy-Pontoise)Won Championship series, 2–0 (Aigles de La Roche-sur-Yon) 2015–16 26 9 2 1 14 32 94 122 9th of 14, Division 1Won Play-down Semifinal series, 2–0 (Aigles de La Roche-sur-Yon) 2016–17 24 8 3 4 9 34 77 78 8th of 13, Division 1Won Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Diables Rouges de Briançon)Lost Semifinal series, 1–2 (Brest Albatros Hockey)
Hockey Courchevel-Méribel-Pralognan Season Finish Playoffs 2017–18 26 5 3 4 14 25 71 109 13th of 14, Division 1Lost Relegation series, 0–2 (Jokers de Cergy-Pontoise) 2018–19 18 13 0 3 2 42 94 49 2nd of 10, Poule B3rd of 20, Division 2Won First Round series, 2–0 (Les Comètes de Meudon)Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Lions de Wasquehal)Won Semifinal series, 2–1 (Renards de Roanne)Lost Championship series, 0–2 (Sangliers Arvernes de Clermont-Ferrand) 2019–20 18 9 2 1 6 32 92 60 4th of 10, Poule B8th of 20, Division 2Won First Round series, 2–1 (Moselle Amnéville Hockey Club)Lost Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Épinal Hockey Club) 2020–21 2 1 0 0 1 3 10 6 N/Apostseason cancelled 2021–22 18 9 2 1 6 32 105 82 t-3rd of 10, Poule Bt-5th of 20, Division 2Won First Round series, 2–0 (Lions de Wasquehal)Won Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Diables Rouges de Valenciennes)Lost Semifinal series, 0–2 (Pingouins de Morzine-Avoriaz) 2022–23 18 11 1 0 6 35 96 56 3rd of 10, Poule B6th of 20, Division 2Won First Round series, 2–0 (Dragons de Rouen II)Won Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Diables Rouges de Valenciennes)Lost Semifinal series, 0–3 (Les Grizzlys de Vaujany) 2023–24 18 13 1 0 4 40 93 69 1st of 10, Poule B2nd of 20, Division 2Won First Round series, 2–0 (Jets d'Évry-Viry)Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Renards de Roanne)Won Semifinal series, 3–0 (Les Grizzlys de Vaujany)Lost Championship series, 1–3 (Ours de Villard-de-Lans) 2024–25 30 6 4 1 19 27 90 119 15th of 16, Division 1Won Relegation Semifinal series, 3–1 (Brest Albatros Hockey)
References
External links Official website Elite Prospects Eurohockey