The IIHF’s Semi-Annual Congress has concluded for the day but not before a lively series of presentations that helped define the events of the past year. Here are the highlights from Day One.
President’s Report
“We have one responsibility,” Luc Tardif said at the end of his President’s Report, which led off the Congress in Tenerife today, “and that is to leave our sport in better shape than we found it.”
Indeed, that was the over-arching agenda of Tardif’s five years of office as the head of ice hockey’s international community. He promised a smooth transition from his tenure to the next president’s, and as he looked back on his time in office, he reflected with pride what had been accomplished, acknowledging that, in truth, the job is never done.
Tardif focused on six big-picture achievements during his tenure: Creating ICE26, the first ever strategic plan for the IIHF; financial stability, which included the establishment of reserve funds to help cope with uncertainties that can’t be anticipated; the creation of a formal Development Department; a successful Olympics which featured NHL players for the first time since 2014; the protection of IIHF competitions; and, the protection of IIHF rights.
If those were the ambitions, Tardif spoke passionately about being able to achieve these only through strong partnerships. This includes working with all 84 MNAs with one common goal—to build, develop, and sustain a great game. It also includes working with leagues and clubs to create a unified whole, and to work with the IOC and other international unions so that ice hockey can be promoted at the highest level and to the greatest number of people around the world. Lastly, Tardif made clear the vital role suppliers and sponsors play in helping to unify the game.
Sustainability Award
Beate Grupp, the Chairperson of the Sustainability Committee, announced the three winners of the IIHF’s Sustainability Award. She noted there were eleven nominations this year, including Belarus, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong/China, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United States.
The Swiss won for their efforts during the 2026 Men’s World Championship. One of their themes was “Less Plastic. Cleaner Oceans.” More than that, however, was their goal of encompassing environmental, social, economic, and long-term legacy issues.
France was awarded second place for “a sustainability label that turns individual club action into a shared system,” and Hong Kong/China placed third because they hosted three tournaments last year but they had one, integrated, sustainability approach for all of them.
2026 World Championship Report
Christian Hofstetter, who oversaw the Organizing Committee for 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, provided a summary report of the tournament’s successes. He noted that 467,023 fans attended the 64 games over 17 days (168,313 in Fribourg and 298,710 in Zurich). There were 250,000 visits to the Fan Zones, nearly 2,000 volunteers, and 97 accredited media (TV, press, photo). Equally important, the Swiss focused on sustainability. This included providing regional public transportation with every ticket and using water dispensers instead of water bottles, two successful initiatives.
2027 World Championship Update
Claus Grobner, Managing Director of the Organising Committee of the IIHF World Championship 2027, followed with an update on the next World Championship, in Dusseldorf and Mannheim next May. Germany will be hosting for the fourth time this century after 2001, 2010, 2017, and 2027. As in 2010, there is an exciting addition to the schedule of games. The Germans will play Switzerland on 13 May 2027 at Veltins Arena, the football stadium, in Gelsenkirchen. This was the same venue that hosted a Germany-United States game to start the 2010 WM and which set an IIHF record with an attendance of 77,803. Over the next nine months, the German Organizing Committee will continue to promote the 2027 WM through their Festival of Friendship.
Finance Report
Chairperson Petr Briza delivered a detailed and impressive report that encompassed both this past season as well as the entire scope of this term’s Council. The bottom line was simple: Covid produced challenges the IIHF had never faced before, but not only has the federation survived these struggles, it has emerged financially healthy and stronger than before. It has learned from that experience and put into place measures to account for the possibility of something similar, but unknown, occurring in the future. Overall, revenue outstripped expenses, and an independent review confirmed the federation’s fiscal strength.
New Office Structure
Director General Matti Nurminen announced a new structure within the IIHF offices, one that combines day-to-day functions with special projects, which are also a regular part of the IIHF’s duties.
Thursday’s session will comprise of presentations for those running for Council and the various affiliated positions, including President, and Friday will see the elections take place.
President’s Report
“We have one responsibility,” Luc Tardif said at the end of his President’s Report, which led off the Congress in Tenerife today, “and that is to leave our sport in better shape than we found it.”
Indeed, that was the over-arching agenda of Tardif’s five years of office as the head of ice hockey’s international community. He promised a smooth transition from his tenure to the next president’s, and as he looked back on his time in office, he reflected with pride what had been accomplished, acknowledging that, in truth, the job is never done.
Tardif focused on six big-picture achievements during his tenure: Creating ICE26, the first ever strategic plan for the IIHF; financial stability, which included the establishment of reserve funds to help cope with uncertainties that can’t be anticipated; the creation of a formal Development Department; a successful Olympics which featured NHL players for the first time since 2014; the protection of IIHF competitions; and, the protection of IIHF rights.
If those were the ambitions, Tardif spoke passionately about being able to achieve these only through strong partnerships. This includes working with all 84 MNAs with one common goal—to build, develop, and sustain a great game. It also includes working with leagues and clubs to create a unified whole, and to work with the IOC and other international unions so that ice hockey can be promoted at the highest level and to the greatest number of people around the world. Lastly, Tardif made clear the vital role suppliers and sponsors play in helping to unify the game.
Sustainability Award
Beate Grupp, the Chairperson of the Sustainability Committee, announced the three winners of the IIHF’s Sustainability Award. She noted there were eleven nominations this year, including Belarus, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong/China, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United States.
The Swiss won for their efforts during the 2026 Men’s World Championship. One of their themes was “Less Plastic. Cleaner Oceans.” More than that, however, was their goal of encompassing environmental, social, economic, and long-term legacy issues.
France was awarded second place for “a sustainability label that turns individual club action into a shared system,” and Hong Kong/China placed third because they hosted three tournaments last year but they had one, integrated, sustainability approach for all of them.
2026 World Championship Report
Christian Hofstetter, who oversaw the Organizing Committee for 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, provided a summary report of the tournament’s successes. He noted that 467,023 fans attended the 64 games over 17 days (168,313 in Fribourg and 298,710 in Zurich). There were 250,000 visits to the Fan Zones, nearly 2,000 volunteers, and 97 accredited media (TV, press, photo). Equally important, the Swiss focused on sustainability. This included providing regional public transportation with every ticket and using water dispensers instead of water bottles, two successful initiatives.
2027 World Championship Update
Claus Grobner, Managing Director of the Organising Committee of the IIHF World Championship 2027, followed with an update on the next World Championship, in Dusseldorf and Mannheim next May. Germany will be hosting for the fourth time this century after 2001, 2010, 2017, and 2027. As in 2010, there is an exciting addition to the schedule of games. The Germans will play Switzerland on 13 May 2027 at Veltins Arena, the football stadium, in Gelsenkirchen. This was the same venue that hosted a Germany-United States game to start the 2010 WM and which set an IIHF record with an attendance of 77,803. Over the next nine months, the German Organizing Committee will continue to promote the 2027 WM through their Festival of Friendship.
Finance Report
Chairperson Petr Briza delivered a detailed and impressive report that encompassed both this past season as well as the entire scope of this term’s Council. The bottom line was simple: Covid produced challenges the IIHF had never faced before, but not only has the federation survived these struggles, it has emerged financially healthy and stronger than before. It has learned from that experience and put into place measures to account for the possibility of something similar, but unknown, occurring in the future. Overall, revenue outstripped expenses, and an independent review confirmed the federation’s fiscal strength.
New Office Structure
Director General Matti Nurminen announced a new structure within the IIHF offices, one that combines day-to-day functions with special projects, which are also a regular part of the IIHF’s duties.
Thursday’s session will comprise of presentations for those running for Council and the various affiliated positions, including President, and Friday will see the elections take place.