A few months after leading France to the Women’s Worlds as captain, Marion Allemoz stands behind the bench of the SDHL’s Linkoping HC.
photo: Christian Flodin
Growing up in Chambery, France as the youngest of five, Marion Allemoz played hockey because it was what her older siblings did – she was even coached by one of her sisters. Allemoz went on to become the face of women’s hockey in France, and retired from playing this spring leading the French to promotion to the Women’s Worlds. Now she is following in her older sister’s footsteps once again, embarking on a coaching career of her own as head coach of Linkoping HC.
“I’m grateful that Linkoping gave me their trust and this opportunity,” said Allemoz, who had been specifically looking for a coaching position in Sweden. Linkoping reached out to her in August about coming on as an assistant coach and working with Simon Hedefalk, who replaced Thomas Pettersen. Just over a month in to the season, Hedefalk was forced to leave due to family reasons, and an opportunity arose for Allemoz to be promoted to head coach.
“Being a coach, it’s something I planned a few years ago. I did my coach degree, [which] I started in 2018 until 2020,” said Allemoz. “I also coached the [French] under-16 national team as an assistant coach. I started end of June and we had our first camp in August.”
This coaching assignment follows a career finale that couldn’t have been scripted any better. Allemoz suited up for France for the last time at the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship Division I Group A tournament, leading her team to gold in front of an enthusiastic home crowd in Angers.
“It was the best end I could hope for, at home in France, with the first place, bringing the French national team back to the top division,” said Allemoz. “It was a full rink. Also the team, we had been playing for so long together, so for me it was a special moment.”
Allemoz has had a storied playing career, first representing France at a World Championship tournament in 2007 and captaining the team for over a decade. During that time she won three gold medals, in 2013 to earn promotion to Division I Group A and in 2018 and 2022 to earn promotion to the top division, which the French national team will return to for just the second time in history in 2023.
She also paved the way for French players to compete in North America by playing with the University of Montreal and the CWHL’s Montreal Canadiennes, winning championships with both teams. Prior to her retirement, Allemoz played four seasons in the SDHL with MODO Ornskoldsvik.
Now that she has relocated several hours south of Ornskoldsvik to Linkoping, Allemoz is focused on using her varied playing experience, leadership skills, and coaching philosophy to elevate her new team.
“For me it’s about where I can bring the team – how I can develop the players, what I can bring as a coach,” said Allemoz. “I believe in hard work and work ethic. I also want to give the players responsibility.”
Last season Linkoping fell in the semi-finals to eventual champions Lulea HF, and will be looking to progress to the SDHL finals for the first time since the 2018/19 season. The roster includes notable Swedish national team players such as Linnea Johansson and Jessica Adolfsson, as well as France’s Lore Baudrit, who played alongside Allemoz on the national team and in the CWHL, SDHL and USports. Long-time Linkoping teammates and Norwegian national team forwards Madelen Haug Hansen and Emilie Kruse Johansen have returned, along with Haruka Toko, who is coming off of a strong showing for Japan at the Women’s Worlds.
Magnus Blarand, who has coached Iceland’s men’s national team and throughout Sweden, was named Allemoz’s assistant coach shortly after her promotion.
“[My goal] is to bring the team to the best place I can,” said Allemoz. “I really want to build a strong group.”
Just as Allemoz spent her playing career opening doors for French women in the hockey world, there’s no doubt she will continue to leave her mark on the sport as a coach – this season is just the beginning.
“I’m grateful that Linkoping gave me their trust and this opportunity,” said Allemoz, who had been specifically looking for a coaching position in Sweden. Linkoping reached out to her in August about coming on as an assistant coach and working with Simon Hedefalk, who replaced Thomas Pettersen. Just over a month in to the season, Hedefalk was forced to leave due to family reasons, and an opportunity arose for Allemoz to be promoted to head coach.
“Being a coach, it’s something I planned a few years ago. I did my coach degree, [which] I started in 2018 until 2020,” said Allemoz. “I also coached the [French] under-16 national team as an assistant coach. I started end of June and we had our first camp in August.”
This coaching assignment follows a career finale that couldn’t have been scripted any better. Allemoz suited up for France for the last time at the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship Division I Group A tournament, leading her team to gold in front of an enthusiastic home crowd in Angers.
“It was the best end I could hope for, at home in France, with the first place, bringing the French national team back to the top division,” said Allemoz. “It was a full rink. Also the team, we had been playing for so long together, so for me it was a special moment.”
Allemoz has had a storied playing career, first representing France at a World Championship tournament in 2007 and captaining the team for over a decade. During that time she won three gold medals, in 2013 to earn promotion to Division I Group A and in 2018 and 2022 to earn promotion to the top division, which the French national team will return to for just the second time in history in 2023.
She also paved the way for French players to compete in North America by playing with the University of Montreal and the CWHL’s Montreal Canadiennes, winning championships with both teams. Prior to her retirement, Allemoz played four seasons in the SDHL with MODO Ornskoldsvik.
Now that she has relocated several hours south of Ornskoldsvik to Linkoping, Allemoz is focused on using her varied playing experience, leadership skills, and coaching philosophy to elevate her new team.
“For me it’s about where I can bring the team – how I can develop the players, what I can bring as a coach,” said Allemoz. “I believe in hard work and work ethic. I also want to give the players responsibility.”
Last season Linkoping fell in the semi-finals to eventual champions Lulea HF, and will be looking to progress to the SDHL finals for the first time since the 2018/19 season. The roster includes notable Swedish national team players such as Linnea Johansson and Jessica Adolfsson, as well as France’s Lore Baudrit, who played alongside Allemoz on the national team and in the CWHL, SDHL and USports. Long-time Linkoping teammates and Norwegian national team forwards Madelen Haug Hansen and Emilie Kruse Johansen have returned, along with Haruka Toko, who is coming off of a strong showing for Japan at the Women’s Worlds.
Magnus Blarand, who has coached Iceland’s men’s national team and throughout Sweden, was named Allemoz’s assistant coach shortly after her promotion.
“[My goal] is to bring the team to the best place I can,” said Allemoz. “I really want to build a strong group.”
Just as Allemoz spent her playing career opening doors for French women in the hockey world, there’s no doubt she will continue to leave her mark on the sport as a coach – this season is just the beginning.