The team represents France at the International Ice Hockey Federation's IIHF World U20 Championship's World Junior Hockey Championship Division I. France made their first and only appearance at the top level at the 2002 World Junior Championships, when the French team defeated the likes of Germany, Ukraine, Austria, Norway, Latvia, and Poland, all of whom would eventually or saw top division competition.

France opened their first game against Canada and lost 15-0, which still stands as their largest margin of defeat.

Briancon, France was host to the 2004 World Junior Championships Division I. France won the opening game 4-1 over Japan, but would not recover as Belarus earned its second promotion to the top division.

Phillipe Bozon, who is the only France-born player to suit up for the NHL's St. Louis Blues was named head coach of the U20 program in 2009.

With Bozon appointed as head coach to replace Dave Henderson, who led the squad to the top division for 2002.