IIHF - International Ice Hockey Federation
The true birthday of ice hockey may not be told ever. Different games
played on ice, were known in the middle of the 19th century (shinney,
hurling, bandy). The first ever ice hockey game is documented on Mar 03,
1875, in Montreal. In 1877, the Canadians cut a slice out of a rubber ball:
the puck was born, the most important invention in ice hockey. Few years
later, quite a number of teams played ice hockey but still only in Canada.
Canadians and Britains living in Canada brought forward the game via Great
Britain to Europe. First clubs in Europe were Prince's Club London and
Cercle des Patineurs Paris. In the years to follow, more and more clubs
appeared. First international games were played. National associations were
founded, and national championships were set up.
Upon invitation of French journalist Louis Magnus, officials from Belgium,
France, Great Britain, and Switzerland constituted Ligue International de
Hockey sur Glace (LIHG). At the second congress in 1909 LIHG decided to
organize yearly European championships and adopted the Canadian rules at
their 4th congress in 1911. First World War interrupted all sports
activities. LIHG reorganized with its first post war congress on occasion
of the Olympic Games in 1920.
During these Olympic Games, ice hockey also was played as an Olympic sport
for the first time (later to be considered the first World Championship,
too). Since inaugural Winter Games in 1924, the sport has been appearing at
all times. The first separate World Championship took place in 1930 in
Chamonix. World War II ended all activities once again until 1946. The next
few years were overshadowed by a strange crisis concerning the relationship
between LIHG and IOC. In 1946, US amateur ice hockey split between Amateur
Athletic Union (AAU) and Amateur Hockey Association (AHA). While a united
AAU/AHA team took part in the World Championship in 1947, parallel congress
decided to recognize only AHA; AAU on the other hand being the one
federation recognized by the National Olympic Committee of the US. At the
1948 Olympics, two ice hockey teams arrived in St. Moritz. LIHG insisted on
participation of AHA, but IOC disqualified the AHA team. All results were
annulled. Crisis culminated in breaking off all relations between IOC and
LIHG in 1949. Fortunately, LIHG reconciled to IOC in 1951. Until today,
this was the only main conflict between IIHF and IOC.
In these years, the international federation had adopted the English name
International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).
In 1966, the European Cup for clubs was introduced, and two years later a
European Junior Championship started. In 1975, the first World Junior
Championship was held.
Canada was about to organize the World Championship of 1970 while IIHF had
decided to open this competition to a limited number of professional
players. But at the congress in July 1969, the federation stopped these
plans. As a reaction, Canada did not take part in the World Championship
until 1977 (first limited "open" World Championship). Also, IIHF and most
important professional league NHL negotiated their relationship. A part of
the agreement with NHL was the introduction of the Canada Cup - a
completely open competition for Canada, USA, and top four European teams to
take place every 4 years in North America.
After affiliation of many Asian federations, special Asian/ Oceania
championships were set up in the 1980s.
(Excerpt of "International Ice Hockey Encyclopedia 1904 - 2012" by the same
author)
Member federations
1912: 11 member federations
1930: 17 member federations
1940: 24 member federations
1980: 31 member federations
2000: 58 member federations
2022: 83 member federations
Presidents
| 16.05.1908 - 23.03.1912 | Louis Magnus FRA |
| 23.03.1912 - 25.02.1914 | Henri van den Bulcke BEL |
| 25.02.1914 | Louis Magnus FRA |
| 25.02.1914 | Bethune Minet "Peter" Patton GBR |
| 25.02.1914 - 26.04.1920 | Henri van den Bulcke BEL |
| 26.04.1920 - 15.02.1922 | Max Sillig SUI |
| 15.02.1922 - 23.02.1947 | Paul Loicq BEL |
| 23.02.1947 - 25.07.1948 | Dr. Fritz Kraatz SUI |
| 25.07.1948 - 28.08.1951 | George Hardy CAN |
| 28.08.1951 - 28.08.1954 | Dr. Fritz Kraatz SUI |
| 28.08.1954 - 14.07.1957 | Walter A. Brown USA |
| 14.07.1957 - 30.07.1960 | John Francis "Bunny" Ahearne GBR |
| 30.07.1960 - 14.08.1963 | Robert LeBel CAN |
| 14.08.1963 - 04.09.1966 | John Francis "Bunny" Ahearne GBR |
| 04.09.1966 - 12.07.1969 | William Thayer Tutt USA |
| 12.07.1969 - 26.07.1975 | John Francis "Bunny" Ahearne GBR |
| 26.07.1975 - 11.06.1994 | Dr. Günther Sabetzki FRG/GER |
| 11.06.1994 - 25.09.2021 | René Fasel SUI |
| 25.09.2021 - | Luc Tardif FRA |
Secretaries General
| 16.05.1908 - 23.03.1912 | Robert Planque FRA |
| 23.03.1912 - 26.04.1920 | Roger van den Straten-Ponthoz BEL |
| 26.04.1920 - 15.02.1922 | Louis Dufour SUI |
| 15.02.1922 - 10.01.1925 | Fred Bandelin BEL |
| 10.01.1925 - 23.02.1947 | Andre G. Poplimont BEL |
| 23.02.1947 - 14.07.1957 | John Francis "Bunny" Ahearne GBR |
| 14.07.1957 - 26.07.1975 | --- |
| 26.07.1975 - 10.06.1986 | Walter Wasservogel AUT |
| 10.06.1986 - 31.10.2006 | Jan-Åke Edvinsson SWE |
| 01.11.2006 - 22.07.2021 | Horst Lichtner GER |
| 22.07.2021 - 13.06.2022 | Gion Veraguth SUI, ad interim |
| 13.06.2022 - | Matti Nurminen FIN |
Last modified: 07.12.2022