Valenciennes

Patrick Francheterre captained France's national team and was later inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Hall of Fame.

It began in 1971 as the Valenciennes Skating Club and changed its name several times. The "Red Devils" tag came in 1986, when the veterans' side chose it, and it stuck so firmly that it became the identity of the whole club. The present name, Valenciennes Hainaut Hockey Club (VHHC), dates from 1997, after a split from the previous entity. That followed bankruptcy in 1996.

The high point came in 1991, when the club won the French second division. Promotion took them to the top flight for 1992–93, then called Nationale 1 and now the Ligue Magnus. They finished 16th and last, and went straight back down. The Coupe de France has been kinder. In 2016 they reached the last 16 by beating the Dragons de Rouen.

The heaviest blow came in 2004, when a fire destroyed the rink. With nowhere to play at home, the club trained across the border in Tournai, Belgium. The players made that journey for four years, until the Valigloo opened in Marly in 2008.

The nearest rivalry is with USL Dunkerque, and their meetings are billed as the "Derby du Nord".