As part of team Lebanon’s preparation for the Arab Cup, held in Abu Dhabi on March 2nd, it was agreed that it would compete in a two-game home & away series against the Argenteuil Hockey Club, which is based in Lachute, Quebec.
The first game took place at the Gilles Lupiens Arena on February 18, 2018. Team Lebanon, as the visitor, was looking forward to measuring itself up to a team it knew very little about. Argenteuil made sure to welcome us in the warmest of ways by scoring a quick goal early in the first period, confusing an overconfident Lebanese hockey club that was still celebrating its last 17-1 victory against the Philippines Flyers. The Lebanese players had realized that Argenteuil was going to be a tough one.
Despite some goal scoring chances on both ends, some really tight hockey was being played, resulting in very little shots on net from both teams in the first two periods.
It was only in the third period where both teams increased their intensity and played some open ice hockey. A couple of amazing saves by goalie Alec Sader kept team Lebanon in the game but unfortunately, that didn’t stop Argenteuil from scoring a beautiful second goal at the end of third. With a 2-0 deficit, time was running out for Lebanon and even though hopes were up when Lebanon finally broke the ice and scored their first to cut the deficit in half, it wasn’t enough to win the game. Team Argenteuil wins the first game by a score of 2-1, in front of their home crowd and
now leads the series 1-0.