I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I WGIHW I Results I Gallery I Feature I i I IceTimesOctober 2019 / Vol. 23, No. 4

Time to drop the puck Semi-Annual Congress recap World Girl's Weekend I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I WGIHW I Results I Gallery I Feature I i I 2

IceTimes October 2019 / Vol. 23, No. 4

From the IIHF President 527-The total number of events that get playing experience for their teams in an were held across the globe during Oc- international environment. I also encourage all tober's World Girls' Ice Hockey Weekend. our participating countries to take a moment during these events to talk to each other, sha- By the numbers Consider that the first weekend we had back re ideas, and potentially create opportunities in 2011 saw 165 events in 21 countries. Ei- to work togetther and host their own joint By René Fasel ght years later: over 500 events, hosted in tournaments. 42 countries and six continents! Most of our The weather is turning and the leaves members that have been involved in this great 1 900 000-The approximate total value in have fallen, which means we have begun initiative from the beginning now have their US dollars in hockey equipment that has been a new ice hockey season! own Girls' Hockey Days centered around the delivered to 47 member national associations weekend. Even professional clubs, including via the IIHF Equipment Support Program. There is already plenty to report in the world two this year from the NHL, are taking part and of international hockey. Here are some key hosting recruitment and Learn to Play events. This program has been around now for 25 numbers ahead of the 2019/2020 season: years, and through the work of the IIHF Mar- This IIHF-led initiative is a great example of keting Department in close cooperation with 81-The size of our IIHF membership, after we a joint cooperation between the IIHF Office our Partners and Suppliers, we have done have added 5 new countries to our ice hockey and our members to exchange resources great work to make hockey more accessible family (read all about our new members here). and knowledge aimed at effectively executing to our developing members by providing gear. It is an incredible milestone for the IIHF to WGIHW events and growing the women's By enabling families new to ice hockey see the reach over 80 members, and a testament to game. positive benefits of the sport and get started the hard work we do to grow the game be- for little or no cost, we are making an impact yond the traditional borders in Europe and 51-The total number of IIHF ice hockey tour- on the game's growth at the grassroot level. . Among our new members naments that will take place this year, a record are countries from three continents, including number. In addition to 32 tournaments in our 1-Incredible visit by the IIHF membership with two from the Middle East (Iran and Lebanon), World Championship program, we have five his Holiness Pope Francis I at the Vatican in one from South America (Colombia), and one Challenge Cup of Asia tournaments, seven Rome! To be accorded this exceptional ho- from Central Asia (Uzbekistan). Together with Continetal Cup stages, four Youth Olympic nour and memorable experience was indeed the our new Greek member, I welcome you all Games events -- including the new 3X3 tour- wonderful, and I repeat the IIIHF's pledge to to the IIHF and wish each of them good luck nments--and the first men's Olympic Qualifi- the Pope to work to make our sport better and in their efforts to grow the game that we love cation events. It will be a busy season, and a more accessible to young men and women so much. great opportunity for our member nations to around the world. I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I WGIHW I Results I Gallery I Feature I i I 3

IceTimes October 2019 / Vol. 23, No. 4

a natural ice rink. Since then, the stadium Ice Hockey World Championship twice with News and Notes has mostly played host to football and track as the main venue in 1934 and 1994. and field events. A new investment effort of over €10 million by the city government will Milan will host ice hockey, figure skating and 2021 IIHF ICE HOCKEY WORLD incorporate a new arena that will be up to IIHF short track events, while other sports will be CHAMPIONSHIP Ice Hockey World Championship standards held in the north-east of the country in Cortina, and will also house figure skating, short- Val di Fiemme, Livigno, Bormio and Antholz. track speed skating, and curling. The new Daugava Ice Hall will form part of a major The 15,000-seat PalaItalia in the southeast redevelopment of the old stadium site, which of the city (pictured below) will be used as will be developed into a wider sport and cultural Finnish sports marketing specialists have the primary ice hockey venue for the 2026 center that will cover nearly 11 hectares. agreed a partnership to jointly develop and Olympic Winter Games and will leave a legacy offer exclusive marketing and hospitality as the city doesn’t have an indoor venue of 2022 IIHF ICE HOCKEY WORLD opportunities in for the 2022 IIHF Ice this size right now. CHAMPIONSHIP Hockey World Championship. FULL STORY The second ice hockey venue in the bid is a in Helsinki has been chosen 2026 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES disused arena recently known as PalaSharp as the second venue for the 2022 IIHF Ice (but will be named Milan Hockey Arena) that Hockey World Championship in Finland to The 134th IOC Session in Lausanne, was built 1986. After renovation works it would host the tournament together with , awarded the hosting of the 2026 serve as second venue for ice hockey as well The IIHF and the Organizing Committee for the new Tampere Deck Arena. Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to as for ice sledge hockey at the Paralympics 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Milan-Cortina, . and offer a capacity for 7,000 fans. jointly announced the approval of a new ice One preliminary round group and two hockey arena in . quarter-final games will be played at Hartwall The final race had two bids remaining with the Arena, a venue that has already hosted the Italian Milan-Cortina bid getting 47 votes and The arena will be constructed on the Daugava men’s World Championship four times in the Swedish bid of Stockholm-Are getting 34 Stadium sporting grounds, a site that holds the past. The Tampere Deck Arena is under votes. The Olympics will take place from 6 to special meaning in Latvian hockey as the construction and estimated to open in the 22 February 2026 while the Paralympic Winter location of the country’s first-ever ice hockey later part of 2021. Games are scheduled for 6-15 March 2026. arena. In other news, the Finnish Ice Hockey Italy previously hosted the Olympic Winter played its first home games Association (FIHA), Infront, a Wanda Sports Games two times in Cortina 1956 and Turin at Daugava stadium, which used to house Group company, and TMG Sports, the 2006. The country previously hosted the IIHF I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I WGIHW I Results I Gallery I Feature I i I 4

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IIHF OFFICIATING ASSIGNMENTS & on the licence categories, officiate games at GREAT BRITAIN It will be the second time after 2017 in Malaysia LICENSES different levels of IIHF tournaments and other that ice sports will be included. Ice hockey international games involving national teams Martin Grubb has been appointed debuted two years ago with the inauguration The International Ice Hockey Federation has now and clubs. as the new head coach of Great of the Malaysia National Ice Skating Stadium assigned the referees and linesmen for most of Britain Under-20s. outside of the capital of Kuala Lumpur. The the tournaments of the IIHF Ice Hockey World The referees and linesmen come from 52 Philippines surprised pre-tournament favourite Championship program, the IIHF Continental different countries around the world. Grubb steps up from his position as Thailand in the deciding game to win the first Cup and the first Olympic Qualification events. coach of GB U18s, while Richard Hartmann will SEA Games ice hockey tournament. Click here to view all licensed on-ice officials continue as under-20s assistant and Dayle Keen In total 502 female and male on-ice officials were has been named as a new assistant coach. This year’s SEA Games are split into several assigned to 44 events at different categories clusters including ice sports in Manila’s and levels. The officials come from 48 different LITHUANIA metropolitan region. The ice hockey tournament countries with the United States (35), Finland The Belarusian Ice Hockey will be held at the SM Mall of Asia Ice Skating (32) and Canada (31) leading the way while at Association selected Mikhail Bernd Haake (pictured, on left) Rink in Pasay south of Manila (pictured below). the other end the list of officials also includes Zakharov to be the new head comes back to Lithuania one year The rink located in a mall has a full-size ice sheet referees and linesmen from members such as coach of the men's national team, after he had led the men’s national and hosted the 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey Challenge Indonesia, Ireland or Macau. replacing Alexander Sidorenko. team to Division IB gold. Haake Cup of Asia. was coaching the men’s national team for six Click here for the full list of assignments Zakharov's merits at domestic level are second seasons. The tournament will include the Philippines, to none. Since joining Yunost as a head Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. The only tournaments not finally assigned are coach in the late ‘90s he has led the club to Doug Boulanger will return behind the bench They will play a five-team round-robin competition two at the end of season. For the 2020 IIHF Ice eight Belarusian championships, six Belarusian of the Lithuanian national team program. After followed by semi-finals and medal games. The Hockey World Championship in Switzerland as Cup titles and won the IIHF Continental Cup having coached the U18 national team last tournament dates are 1-8 December 2019. well as the Division I Group A in only long three times, most recently in 2018. year, he will be the head coach for both the lists have been published. The performances U20 and U18 national team in the upcoming of the candidates will be followed by the IIHF At the international level he has been coaching season. Officiating Committee in international and the U18, U20 and men’s national team, the domestic competitions before the final selection latter during the 2003/2004 and part of the PHILLIPINES will be made in March. 2004/2005 seasons as well as during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. He was also head The Philippines will soon host the 30th Southeast The IIHF also published the licences for coach of the Ukrainian national team and an Asia Games – a traditional multi-sports event in international on-ice officials. Referees and assistant coach at the 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey the region that takes place every two years. linesmen with IIHF licences can, depending World Championship. I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I WGIHW I Results I Gallery I Feature I i I 5

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DENMARK for the Edmonton Oilers, Buffalo Sabres, Mettler will continue to be behind the Swiss tant coach Yevgeni Sherbakov and goaltending New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins and bench for the 2020 IIHF Ice Hockey World coach Oleg Lavretski. The same coaches will The Danish Ice Hockey Union . He also played in KHL for Championship. also lead the U16 women’s national team. named Peter Elander as the next Dinamo Moscow and HC Slovan . head coach of the women's national RUSSIA FINLAND team. He is the only player to hold all Slovak medals from IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Yevgeni Bobariko who was Jukka Jalonen and the Finnish 59-year-old Peter Elander was the head coach play – one gold (2002), two silver medals coaching the U18 women’s nation- Ice Hockey Association extended of the Swedish women’s national team for (2000 and 2012) and one bronze (2003). al team during the past three years, the contract until May 2022 when nine years until the 2010 Olympics. During this will take over the Russian senior Finland will host the Worlds on period Sweden won a historic Olympic silver Satan also confirmed that Craig Ramsay will women's national team from Alexei Chistyakov. home ice. medal in Turin 2006 as well as bronze medals stay on as head coach of the Slovak men’s at the Women’s Worlds in 2005 and 2007. Later national team for the new season. Ramsay The 45-year-old Bobariko was a professional Jalonen first joined the coaching staff as as- he moved to the United States where he was took over the Slovak national team in 2017 and player for his hometown team Torpedo Nizhni sistant coach for the 2007/2008 season and coaching at the University of North Dakota and led the Slovaks in two IIHF Ice Hockey World Novgorod and other clubs, represented Russia then became head coach for the following five the Ohio State University. Championships so far where they finished at the 1994 IIHF World Junior Championship years leading Finland to the 2011 world title. twice in 9th place. During this two-year stint and was a seventh-round draft pick of the Van- His success as a coach made him a Finnish together with are the two he also coached them at the Olympic men’s couver Canucks in 1993. Hall of Fame member already in 2012 when promoted teams replacing Sweden and ice hockey tournament in PyeongChang 2018 he was 50 years old – but more success was at the 2020 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World where they finished in 11th place. After his playing career he became involved in yet to come. Championship in Halifax and Truro. the Russian women’s national team program SWITZERLAND as an assistant coach in 2008 and with one After two years as head coach of SKA St. Pe- of the top women’s hockey teams, SKIF Nizh- tersburg in the Kontinental Hockey League he Swiss men's national team head ni Novgorod. During the past three years he returned to Finland and led the U20 nation- The Slovak Ice Hockey Federation coach Patrick Fischer had his finished third, fourth and fourth at the IIHF Ice al team to gold at the 2016 IIHF World Ju- (SZLH) has chosen Miroslav contract extended until the end of Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship nior Championship on home ice in Helsinki. Satan as the new President for the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey World and led Russia to two U16 Women’s European He then coached Finnish KHL team the next three years. Championship. He will be behind the bench Cups (2017, 2019). Helsinki for two seasons before returning as for the next five World Championships and head coach of the men’s national team for the Satan worked as General Manager of Slovak the 2022 Olympic Winter Games. The U18 women’s national team will get a new 2018/2019 season and leading the team to national team for last two years. Before he head coach with Alexander Syrtsov, who has gold at the recent 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World agreed to be a GM of the during Fischer’s assistants , Christian been an assistant coach of the team during Championship. the 2016 of Hockey. Satan played Wohlwend and goaltending coach Peter the past three years. He will be joined by assis- I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I WGIHW I Results I Gallery I Feature I i I 6

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Nickel was born in 1944 in Weisswasser and of North Dakota and became the team’s all- lowed the Czechoslovaks to finish in second Obituaries went through the youth system of Dynamo time scoring leader. Before launching his NHL place. Weisswasser before transferring within East career he played the 1993 IIHF Ice Hockey GINO PASQUALOTTO to archrival Dynamo when he World Championship as well as the 1991 World Hrbaty was born in Strazisko u Prostejova. He was 19. The forward would play for the club be- Juniors and joined the Detroit Red Wings He was moved to one of the country’s top clubs, Italian Gino tween 1963 and 1974 before moving to coach- played four seasons in Detroit before moving Dukla Jihlava, when he was 19. Jihlava became Pasqualotto passed away on ing. to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Black- his home where he won seven Czechoslovak 20 June at the age of 63. hawks.Johnson played seven years for the championships in his 18 seasons before retiring Nickel also represented East Germany as a Nashville Predators and was between in 1980. He stayed in the city until his death and Pasqualotto spent almost his player in 45 international games including the 2001 and 2006 before retiring. also worked for the team until the mid-‘90s in entire hockey life in his home- 1968 Olympics and the 1970 and 1974 World the top Czech league. town of Bolzano where his Championships. He played 785 NHL games (145 goals, 369 jersey number 33 was retired in a touching cer- points) and appeared in 37 playoff games (7 TON TEE TEH emony in February. He was the captain in the After 1988 he was the head coach of Dynamo goals, 13 points). With Canada he won World last years of his career and won no less than 10 Berlin / Eisbaren Berlin for five years. He then Juniors gold in 1991 and took home an Olym- The Malaysian ice hockey Italian championships in Bolzano. coached Hanover for three years before return- pic silver medal in 1994. family mourns the death of ing to Berlin in 1996. After winning East German forward Ton Tee Teh, a former During 11 seasons Pasqualotto was part of the championships with the old Dynamo outfit as a JAN HRBATY national team player who re- Italian national team. Between 1975 and 1985 player, he was part of a successful era of the re- cently had his comeback and Pasqualotto was on the ice when the team branded Eisbaren Berlin club and of seven Ger- Czech ice hockey mourns practised with the national managed to move up from the C-Pool to the man championships between 2005 and 2013. the death of former nation- team to help it for the upcom- top-division IIHF Ice Hockey World Champion- al team forward Jan Hrbaty, ing season. ship in 1982. He also played for the Azzurri at GREG JOHNSON who passed away on 23 July the 1984 Olympic Winter Games in Sarajevo. after serious illness at the age The forward was only 43 when he and a col- Former Canadian centre Greg of 77. league driving the car died in a car accident in HARTMUT NICKEL Johnson passed away on 8 Kuala Lumpur on 6 October. Teh represented July near Detroit. He was only Hrbaty represented the Czechoslovak men’s Malaysia at the Asian Winter Games in 2007 For nearly 51 years Harmut Nickel was part of 48. national team in 57 international games, won and several IIHF Ice Hockey Challenge Cup of Eisbaren Berlin (before 1992 known as Dynamo Olympic silver in 1968 and IIHF Ice Asia events between 2008 and 2013. He re- Berlin), first as a player, then as a coach and The native of Thunder Bay, Hockey World Championship bronze medals cently had his comeback in the national team later as an advisor. On 25 June, Nickel passed Ontario played his junior in 1969 and 1970. The most important of his camp and played last season in the Malaysian away at the age of 74 after short illness. hockey in Canada before moving to the Unit- 15 goals was the game-tying in a 2-2 tie league for the Kuala Lumpur Club. ed States where he graduated at the University against Sweden at the 1968 Olympics that al- I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I WGIHW I Results I Gallery I Feature I i I 7

IceTimes October 2019 / Vol. 23, No. 4 SAC wrapup TOURNAMENTS SET FOR 2019/2020 All tournament hosts and dates were confirmed Statutes, Regulations changes approved for the upcoming 2019/2020 season during Congress. You can view all the tournaments By Adam Steiss below:

The IIHF Semi-Annual Con- l IIHF Championship program gress concluded in Rome l Beijing 2022 Olympic Qualification in September. The following l 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games amendments to the 2018- l Challenge Cup of Asia 2022 IIHF Rule Book were l IIHF Continental Cup confirmed by Congress. SWEDEN, DENMARK CONFIRMED FOR 2025 l IIHF Rule #96 Goals with Skate: A goal with the skate will be permitted in cases The IIHF Semi-Annual Congress also confirmed where the puck is deflected or directed off of a Sweden and Denmark’s proposal to co-hosts player’s skate. The rule of a goal being called off the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. The Annual Congress confirmed a new set of amendments designed to meet modern standards for good governance. due to a player using a distinctive kicking action Sweden was initially confirmed as the tourna- to direct the puck into the net remains in place. ment hosts, but after discussions with Demark liberate contact with a , inside or out- stick to his team mate as long the moved stick the two neighbouring Scandinavian countries l IIHF Rule #150 side of his goal crease. doesn’t become involved in the game or distract made a co-hosting proposal to the IIHF Con- Interference on a Goaltender: opponent players. A player can slide or direct gress last May. Incidental contact by an attacking player with Incidental contact with a goaltender will be per- any stick or any part of it, or any object, away a goaltender will permitted outside of crease in mitted, and any resulting goals allowed, when from his immediate area on ice so long as his The host cities in Sweden and Denmark will certain situations. such contact is initiated outside of the goal actions do not interfere with an opponent. be confirmed at the later date. The Swedes’ crease, provided the attacking player has made last World Championship on home ice came Goals will only be disallowed only if: a reasonable effort to avoid such contact. However, a player on the ice who throws or di- in 2012 and 2013 in a two-year co-hosting bid an attacking player, either by his positioning or rects a broken stick or any part of it, or any other between Stockholm and Helsinki, Finland. Den- by contact, impairs the goaltender’s ability to lIIHF Rule #120 & 165 object, at the puck or puck carrier in the neutral mark successfully hosted its first-ever IIHF Ice move freely within his crease or defend his goal; Throwing a Stick or Object: or attacking zone, will be assessed a minor pe- Hockey World Championship in Copenhagen or an attacking player initiates intentional or de- A player will be allowed to slide a dropped/ lost nalty. and Herning in 2018. I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I WGIHW I Results I Gallery I Feature I i I 8

IceTimes October 2019 / Vol. 23, No. 4

New Infront deal Partnership with IIHF extended

By Adam Steiss

The International Ice Hockey Federation has extended its media and marketing part- nership with Infront Sports & IIHF Negotiation Group Chair Bob Nicholson (right) signs the Media until 2033. extension with Infront Senior Vice President Bruno Marty.

IIHF membership that it is the ideal commer- The appointment of Infront as the IIHF’s mar- cial partner for IIHF until 2033, not only due to keting partner for the IIHF Ice Hockey World the significant financial contributions they will Championship, as well as the two Division I make in return for the rights, but also in terms tournaments (Group A and B) from 2024 to of increased investment into services which 2033, has been unanimously ratified by the will enable IIHF to remain at the forefront of delegates of the IIHF Congress in Rome on future technological developments.” Thursday. Infront's key areas of service include media production, digital development and rights delivery for the World Championship. “The new agreement provides our partner The new agreement with Infront has been IIHF long-term financial security, continuous structured in order to allow the IIHF and Infront by Infront in the value of more than CHF 500 mined by an IIHF Negotiation Group, chaired investment into multiple services and a tried- to mutually adapt to ongoing changes in the million. On top of this the parties will have by IIHF Vice President Bob Nicholson and and-tested team of seasoned commercial ex- industry, where digital will continue to blur the equal share in the exploitation of new and in- comprised five additional members of the IIHF perts in the field of ice hockey," said Infront traditional boundaries of the broadcast and novative sources of revenues, such as sport Council. Senior Vice President Bruno Marty. "This sponsorship landscape in the coming years. and fan data. combination will significantly increase the po- “We thank Infront for the very fair and always tential of IIHF to further develop and grow the Over the 10-year period it foresees guaran- Extensive, transparent negotiation transparent negotiation process," said Nichol- sport of ice hockey globally in the future and teed payments and the provision of compre- son. "During this process Infront has convin- Infront is very proud to remain IIHF's trusted hensive media, marketing and digital services The terms of the new agreement were deter- ced both the IIHF negotiation group and the partner on this mission.” I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I WGIHW I Results I Gallery I Feature I i I 9

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President Fasel also spoke about the Unified IIHF meets the Pope Korea women’s team, as an example of ice hockey crossing borders. Congress capped off with Vatican visit “It took several years of discussions and pre- By Adam Steiss parations, but in the end the players from North and South Korea were together on the The IIHF membership was accorded an same team, in the same dressing room, wea- exceptional honour by the Vatican today, ring the same jersey, playing together on the following the conclusion of the 2019 IIHF ice for each other and the Korean people.” Semi-Annual Congress in Rome, Italy. “It is this spirit that we share across the world The Pope warmly welcomed the attendees to of sport. We work hard for each other, and the Vatican. In his address to the delegates, this is why I refer to our Congress members he acknowledged the role of ice hockey in so- as the ice hockey family.” cial development and community-building. Fasel also thanked the Pope for last year’s “Hockey is a good example of how sport can public recognition of the Declaration of Prin- "As you support the development of this sport worldwide, you are encouraging young and old, men and women, to bring express a sense of community. It is a team ciples, an initiative spearheaded by the NHL out the best of themselves and to promote friendly relationships on the ice" -Pope Francis in his address to the IIHF game in which each team member has an im- and NHLPA along with 14 other ice hockey portant role to play. Whenever you take part in stakeholders – including the IIHF – to advan- the World Championships, you can see how The Papal audience also included an opening “It is also a sport that brings people toge- ce policies, programs and initiatives that grow people from many different countries enjoy speech from IIHF President René Fasel. On ther. We just had our IIHF Congress in Rome, ice hockey, while at the same time inspiring coming together to experience the beauty of behalf of the attendees, Fasel expressed his which each year brings over 75 countries to- fans, players and communities to create the sport.” sincere thanks to Pope Francis for granting- gether with one shared passion for hockey. best possible experience for the entire hockey this honour to the IIHF. Here Russians and Ukrainians talk to each community. “As you support the development of this sport other about ice hockey development, despite worldwide, you are encouraging young and “Ice hockey is a game of fair play and res- the current political situation. Balkan nations “We at the IIHF pledge to uphold these va- old, men and women, to bring out the best of pect,” said Fasel. “At the end of every hockey work together in friendship and organize tour- lues, and I hope that we will be worthy of this themselves and to promote friendly relations- game, no matter what level, the teams get to- naments between countries that were at war incredible honour you have shown us today,” hips on the ice.” gether and shake hands, as is our tradition.” not a long time ago." said Fasel.

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IceTimes October 2019 / Vol. 23, No. 4

The IIHF President then presented Pope Fran- “A once in a lifetime experience,” said IIHF Vi- cis with a set of gifts: a bronze sculpture of ce-President Bob Nicholson. “I mean you work an ice hockey player together with a specially in hockey and never think that you’d have the made jersey. Produced by IIHF partner Nike, opportunity to meet and shake hands with the the white jersey featured the Vatican coat of Pope. His words were very well-spoken, he arms on the front, along with a No.1 and “Fran- certainly values sport and sport development.” cescus” written on the back. During Pope Francis’s address to the audience, The idea for the Vatican meeting was initially he also pointed out the IIHF’s recent approval conceived by the Italian Ice Sports Federation, last May for a series of updates to the IIHF Sta- which worked with the Italian National Olym- tutes and Bylaws, designed specifically to en- pic Committee in order to receive the proper courage good governance and transparency. clearances and pave the way for the Papal au- He also commended the decision to appoint a dience to happen following the end of the 2019 new Ethics board within the federation. Semi-Annual Congress. “Todays’ culture may sometimes steer sporting “We started two years ago, with an idea to activities down the wrong path, but we must bring the IIHF to the Vatican,” said Italian Ice keep in mind that rules are there to serve a IIHF President René Fasel presented His Holiness Pope Francis with a special customized IIHF ice hockey jersey. Sports Federation President Andrea Gios. “I specific purpose and to avoid a descent into asked (Italian Olympic Committee President) chaos. Athlete honour fair play when they not Giovanni Malago to help us connect with them. attendance were thrilled by the experience of jumped at the chance to have an audience only obey the formal rules but also observe We thought this was a very good thing to have meeting the Pope. with the head of the Catholic Church. justice with respect to their opponents so that the hockey family here, and all the people that all competitors can freely engage in the game." work with me at our federation put in a 100% “It unites our family, this person is very close to “This is really a special feeling for all of us,” said effort for it to work.” God and we get to visit him,” said IIHF Coun- Anders Larsson, President of the Swedish Ice “With all this in mind I encourage you and your cil member Vladislav Tretiak. “It unites us and Hockey Association. Federation to go forth and continue your spe- “René was enthusiastic about the idea, and million of people just dream to be here, so it’s cial mission to make this sport inclusive and to once we had the Semi-Annual Congress con- very important for us.” “I think it’s a day that I and everyone that was ensure a safe community to all who take part.” firmed in Rome we knew we had to make it here will remember for the rest of our lives. happen.” Considering the size of the Semi-Annual Con- It really shows that ice hockey, our fantastic “May the Lord bless you and always give you gress, nearly all of the delegates that were in sport, can bring people together and be so the joy of sport being played together. Thank Members of the various IIHF delegations in attendance from around the ice hockey world much more than just a game.” you.” I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I WGIHW I Results I Gallery I Feature I i I 11

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One of the hockey enthusiasts is Karim Kerbou- and national team players of the future. Thank Argentina and Chile in the ‘90s to join the Inter- IIHF grows to 81 che, who has played ice hockey in Great Bri- you to all members who voted in our favour.” national Ice Hockey Federation and do the next tain. He and other players based abroad helped step. Five new members approved at SAC bring the sport to the country of their heritage The hockey school took place recently at Pati- and use the currently limited possibilities for ice noire Dream Games, a new ice rink located at “Ice hockey in Colombia is a sport that has ac- By Martin Merk to teach the sport to the locals. the Park Mall in Setif, a city located 270 kilome- quired significant results without having the ade- ters east of the capital of Algiers. Synthetic ice quate infrastructure to develop players, referees The 2019 IIHF Semi-Annual “After years of hard work it is a great honour rinks have also been used for hockey training and coaches. However, Colombian hockey has Congress admitted five new for Algeria to become members of the IIHF. We in Algiers and Oran where real ice rinks are run shown great talent and a potential growth that members nations – Algeria, are dedicated to developing the sport in Algeria temporarily during winters. A permanent ice rink motivates us to work for the sport in our coun- Colombia, Iran, Lebanon and and providing physical activity for the Algerian is planned in a new shopping mall in Baraki clo- try,” said Daniel Fierro Torres, the President of Uzbekistan – as new asso- public, and we look forward to guidance from se to Algiers, which will become the largest mall the Colombian Ice Hockey Federation. ciate members. the experienced IIHF staff and member nations, in Africa. who will no doubt help take our project to the “Because of this, being members of the IIHF In addition a new member was approved to re- next level,” Kerbouche said. Click here for Algeria’s country profile means a big step towards our goals of offering present Greece. This is the biggest number of the hockey community in Colombia the best countries joining the IIHF since 1992 when the “The Algerian government are supporting the COLOMBIA atmosphere to play, and in this way develop IIHF grew by ten countries following the break- creation of our first hockey school in the city of young human beings with good sportsmanship up of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. Setif where our current only indoor permanent The South American country of and human values.” ice rink is based, from there we have started to Colombia has a long history in ALGERIA create our new generation of hockey players inline hockey and has in the last Click here for Colombia’s country profile few years made first steps to Ice hockey is a new sport in convert the skill to the ice. It had its debut at Algeria and inspired by the the Pan-American Ice Hockey Tournament that Algerian diaspora in other Mexico hosted annually between 2014 and 2017 countries, in particular in France. Players of Al- and managed to win the men’s tournament in gerian descent have formed a team that played 2015 and 2016 – despite not having an ice rink at tournaments such as the Arab Cup and Afri- to play the game within the country. Recently it can Club Championships (under the name Al- competed at another tournament in Florida. ger Corsaires) with the Algerian flag as well as in exhibition games against French club teams. Now Colombia has become the fifth Latin Ame- rican country after Mexico in 1986 and Brazil, I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I WGIHW I Results I Gallery I Feature I i I 12

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IRAN Iran joins the IIHF with the Iran Skating Fe- cognition by the Ministry of Youth & Sports. the age of 9 and 15, otherwise they play ball deration chaired by Bahman Mohammad hockey. Similar like in Colom- Rezaei that has a specific hockey depart- The LIHF has started convening men and bia, Iran gets the tas- ment chaired by Kaveh Sedghi. women of Lebanese descent to play exhibi- El-Mir is happy that a next step was taken te of ice hockey with tion games not only in the Middle East but by joining the IIHF. players who honed “In Iran with a population of 85 million peo- also in tournaments in Africa, Asia, Europe their skill in inline hockey, which started in ple we have many sports enthusiast who are and North America, and has a development “We are a statement of love and unity ex- 1985 and where Iran is the current Asian love hockey and for sure the new opportu- strategy for the youth in Beirut with the Pan- pressed by today’s Lebanese generation. champion. Currently 230 players are regis- nity that the IIHF is providing us as a new thers team. Our mission is to offer an opportunity for tered with 23 ice hockey teams. member of the great ice hockey family gi- our federation to spread internationally whi- ves big hope for the young generation to be le encouraging their values such as the spi- There have been several small ice rinks in more involved in this amazing sport,” said rit of unity, sharing and love for our country,” Tehran, Mashhad and on Kish Island but the Rezaei. he said. recent construction of new rinks gives tota- lly new perspective with full-size ice rinks in “Hockey is a unique sport in the sense that Click here for Lebanon’s country profile the capital of Tehran such as the recently you need each and every person helping opened IceBox at Iran Mall. Another full-size each other and pulling in the same direc- UZBEKISTAN ice rink will be constructed at Mica Mall on tion to be successful. So, we are working Kish Island while Iran could for events also together with our team in the Iran Skating Ice hockey has celebrated a comeback in build an ice rink into the large indoor arena Federation to develop ice hockey in the best Uzbekistan during the last few years. During Azadi Sport Complex in Tehran. way.” the Soviet times the capital of Tashkent had The goal is to create an ice hockey program a hockey team, Binokor, in the Soviet sys- Click here for Iran’s country profile and league in Lebanon where currently the tem that made it up to the second-highest biggest piece for this puzzle is missing: an league of the Soviet Union. LEBANON ice rink. The only recreational rink that was mostly used by expats in Lebanon closed Recently IIHF.com spoke with one of its for- A dedicated group of ten years ago and has become a TV pro- mer players, Vladimir Kapulovski, who is Lebanese expats led by duction facility. now a coach in Kazakhstan and led Arlan -based Charles to the Continental Cup triumph. El-Mir brings ice hockey A temporary rink of 20 on 20 metres in a to Lebanon with the founding of the Lebane- tent was used for the Panthers last season “In Kazakhstan we have winter, in Tashkent it’s se Ice Hockey Federation and last year’s re- with ten players including one girl between like in Florida. But they built an arena for 18,000 I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I WGIHW I Results I Gallery I Feature I i I 13

IceTimes October 2019 / Vol. 23, No. 4 spectators, maybe there will be some se- supported us and voted for the UIHF. For GREECE rious hockey there with a team in the KHL or us it is a great honour to be accepted into VHL [Russia’s second league] in the future,” the big ice hockey family of the IIHF. I sha- After a restructuring by the sport authorities ice he said eight months ago. And he was right. re this feeling of pride with all hockey fans hockey is now governed by the Hellenic Winter in my country and strongly believe that our Sports Federation (EOX), formally becoming the 30 years after Binokor disappeared, Humo new status will open more opportunities for new IIHF member representing Greece. Tashkent joined Russia’s second-tier league the development of the game in Uzbekistan,” VHL and with a farm team the top league said UIHF President Bakhtiyor Fazilov. Ice hockey started in Greece in the ‘80s and the of neighbouring Kazakhstan. They play in country gained IIHF membership in 1987. Du- the state-of-the-art Humo Arena in the capi- “Getting access to the development and ring two periods with ice in Greece, the men’s tal city and thousands of fans have already educational programs as well as to the varie- national team participated in the IIHF Ice Hockey visited the arena to enjoy the comeback of ty of events and tournaments guided by IIHF, World Championship program between 1992 legate went to the IIHF Hockey Development in Uzbekistan. But new contacts and relations with other mem- and 1999, and between 2008 to 2013. Camp in Finland and participated in the recent it’s not just about having a professional team ber associations definitely will be a significant Balkan Ice Hockey Festival in Bulgaria with nine that obviously consists mostly of foreign pla- support for our plans of hockey expansion But in the country that invented the drama and players and two coaches. yers. throughout the country.” tragedy, it hasn’t been easy for the sport. In 2010 when Greece was supposed to hold its first IIHF “It is very important for our federation to become With the opening of the first ice rinks in the Click here for Uzbekistan’s country profile event, the World Championship Division III at an IIHF member," said HWSF President Dimosthe- newer era, Uzbekistan has launched a cham- ice rink that was installed into a disused arena nis Gyrousis. "We strongly believe that the sport pionship that recently included four clubs – of the 2004 Summer Olympics, the only full-size will have great development in our country. With Binokor, Humo, Tashkent and Semurg – and rink was shut down after just one season. the participation of our athletes in development the Uzbekistan Ice Hockey Federation was camps and our coaches in training seminars established on 28 March 2018. The Hellenic Winter Sports Federation has now and clinics, with the education and emerging nine ice hockey clubs registered that play cham- of referees, with the IIHF’s technical support in Each club has its hockey school with now pionships in different categories and use two issues regarding ice hockey and ice rinks, and 200 kids involved. A team Tashkent Select small-size ice rinks in Athens and one in Thes- the cooperation with other countries through with juniors born in 2008 and 2009 joined saloniki. participation in international tournaments and the Kazakh championship. There are cu- events, we are certain that ice hockey will have rrently four ice rinks in Tashkent and another Despite the unclear membership situation du- a vertical rise in Greece. We love the sport and one is planned in the city of Samarkand. ring the last few years, Greece was able to join we are eager and willing to take it higher.” development programs of the IIHF during the “I would like to thank all IIHF members who last years. Players, coaches and a technical de- Click here for Greece’s country profile I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I WGIHW I Results I Gallery I Feature I i I 14

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many years with Biel in the Swiss A league NHL-Europe study to play with Edmonton. Haas also was never drafted, but at 27 he is the oldest newcomer Europeans represent half of NHL rookies so far. He has played in four World Cham- pionships and the 2018 Olympics but until this By Andrew Podnieks year never got much of a look by NHL teams.

The new NHL season is underway, but al- Only two of the 34 pure rookies are goalten- ready 34 players have appeared in a game ders, and both are European: Ilya Samsonov for the first time in their (mostly) young li- of Russia (Washington) and Elvis Merzlikins of ves. And, impressively, 17 of those 34 are (Columbus). The two had very different European. first games, though. Samsonov was excellent in stopping 25 of 26 shots and leading his Ca- Some of these inaugural forays into the league pitals to a 2-1 win over the New York Islanders. have been expected, and others not so much. From left: Kaapo Kakko, Jack Hughes, Ilya Mikheyev, Gaetan Haas, and Elvis Merzlikins are part of the NHL rookie class. Only 22, he played for Russia at the 2015 U18 What is a surprise, though, is that of those 34, and the 2016 and 2017 World Juniors. only four come from the first round of the 2019 The only other two first-rounders currently in the 24-year-old was never drafted. The Leafs Entry Draft. In an era when the league is get- the NHL are Ville Heinola with Winnipeg (20th signed him as a free agent after their 2018/19 The likeable Merzlikins, though, who has pla- ting younger and first-rounders are considered overall) and Tobias Bjornfot with Los Angeles season was over, and the only other top-level yed in the last four World Championships for mostly instant stars, teams have opted for cau- (22nd overall). Neither have made an imme- experience he had came at the 2018 IIHF Ice his country, was shelled by tion so far. Of course, the first overall pick, Jack diate impact in what is still a young season. Hockey World Championship. and the Pittsburgh Penguins to the tune of Hughes, is playing with the New Jersey Devi- 7-2. Still, given that he was drafted 76th ove- ls, but after four games he has yet to register a Of the 34 newcomers, 13 are Canadian and Perhaps the biggest story so far is Joel Pers- rall by the Blue Jackets five years ago, making point and is a -3. four from the U.S. Among the 17 from Europe, son of Sweden. The Edmonton Oilers signed it to the NHL is a huge deal for the 25-year-old Sweden leads the way with five, followed by him a year ago, but he never made the team Latvian. The second overall selection, Finland’s Kaapo Russia (four). Finland has two and five coun- at the time. He was never drafted, never pla- Kakko, hasn’t fared much better. The 18-year- tries have a single newcomer (Czech Repu- yed in an IIHF event for Tre Kronor, but made Statistically, there will be 125-150 newcomers old has set the international stage on fire the blic, Germany, Latvia, Slovakia, Switzerland). the Oil at camp this year and has been impor- to the NHL over the coming season, so the- last 18 months, winning gold at the U18, U20, tant in the team’s strong start. se trends and stories are part only of the first and senior World Championship. But he has no Russia's Ilya Mikheyev scored a goal and ad- week. Yet they are interesting all the same and points through two games with the New York ded an assist for in the team’s home Equally interesting, though, is Gaetan Haas, suggest Europeans are making even more of Rangers and is a -1. opener. Mikheyev is a feel-good story in that the Swiss forward who left his country after an impact on the NHL than ever before. I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I WGIHW I Results I Gallery I Feature I i I 15

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Girls hit the ice around the world Catching up on the 2019 World Girls' Ice Hockey Weekend

By Martin Merk I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I WGIHW I Results I Gallery I Feature I i I 16

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Over 42 countries took part were held in Brisbane and Townsville as well as Georgieva organized an event in the capital of team volunteered en masse to help out during in the 2019 World Girls' Ice in other towns across the country. Sofia also this year and 42 female players came this year's World Girls' Ice Hockey Weekend in Hockey Weekend on 5-6 from local teams and the national team for a day Fredericton. October, aiming to bring BELARUS: MINSK dedicated to girls’ hockey. The participants were FULL STORY more women and girls into Belarus aims at bringing women’s hockey back, between 4 and 40 years of age. ice hockey. starting with the World Girls' Ice Hockey Wee- : PRIBRAM kend events held in the capital Minsk. Competitions were organized in each of the In Pribram in the Central Bohemian Region the In total 526 events with tens of thousands of groups with hockey gear as prize as a gift from Czech Ice Hockey Association organized the participants were organized on all continents. During the weekend young women had the the Bulgarian Ice Hockey Federation. World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend. For the first chance to go behind the scenes of KHL club time it was done with two events – Saturday fo- ACCESS THE WGIHW TRACKER Dynamo Minsk and get a coaching session with cused on younger girls (6-12 years old), Sunday two players of the team. on teenagers from 12 to 16 with 97 participating AUSTRALIA girls in total. Several states in Australia hosted World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend events. The one by Ice Hockey Victoria was held at the O’Brien Icehou- se in the Melbourne region with 44 female parti- cipants from 6 to 40 years of age.

They were coached by no one else than Geor- gia Moore, captain of the Australian women’s CANADA national team, while others from the local clubs Canada led all countries in WGIHW events, hos- and league helped as volunteers. Other events ting over 200 across the country. At the Killar- ney Rink in Vancouver, some 30 new skaters, aged four to 13, tried out the sport on Saturday On Sunday female junior players from different morning. Thirteen of them were six years old or club played an exhibition game during the inter- under. The girls got great support with 50 on-ice ESTONIA: TALLINN mission in front of a big audience. player helpers, 10 on-ice coaches, and 50 off- Estonia has relaunched women’s hockey in the FULL STORY ice volunteers. recent years also thanks to the World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend. Meanwhile the country has a BULGARIA: SOFIA On the other side of the country, The Univer- five-team women’s hockey league won by HC Bulgarian women’s national team player Vanesa sity of New Brunswick Reds women's hockey Everest from Kohtla-Jarve and hopes with con- I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I WGIHW I Results I Gallery I Feature I i I 17

IceTimes October 2019 / Vol. 23, No. 4 tinued growth the country can return to the IIHF FRANCE: ANGLET MEXICO: MEXICO CITY Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship pro- The hockey club Anglet Hormadi in the sou- The Ice Station Buenavista hosted World Girls’ gram in a year. th-west Atlantic coast of France welcomed 35 Ice Hockey Weekend on Saturday night in the FULL STORY participants from 4 to 47 years of age at the La nation's capital. Barre ice rink for their girls’ day. Altogether, there were about 60 participants, After the reception and getting equipped, they counting both girls aged mostly 6-17 and pla- had first three stations during one hour on the yers from the U18 Mexican women’s national ice as they were split into three different groups team. depending on their abilities. During a second session they had the chance to play 3-on-3 NETHERLANDS: HEERENVEEN cross-ice hockey. 126 participants and 16 coaches from different teams and 30 volunteers came together for the JAPAN: HACHINOHE annual celebration of girls’ hockey by IJshockey The Japan Ice Hockey Federation hosted its Nederland in Heerenveen. The girls and women World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend event in Ha- where between 9 and 45 years old. chinohe in the Aomori Prefecture in the nor- FINLAND theast of the main island Honshu. 70 female Eight teams were formed to play a tournament It was a busy weekend in Finland with an incredi- players were on the ice and helped by some and among the participants were also 12 girls ble 26 rinks hosting the World Girls’ Ice Hockey Olympians and national team staff. from Belgium and 10 from Cologne, Germany, Weekend including KJT Hockey in Kerava. 30 FULL STORY who loved to join the event as well. participants between the ages 4 and 14 years came to the rink.

IFK Helsinki hosted another event in the capi- ICELAND: REYKJAVIK tal city. The event was held at teh Helsinki Ice Laugardalur Ice Rink in the capital of Reykjavik Hall and was open for all female players, which hosted Iceland’s World Girls’ Ice Hockey Wee- included 53 participants from 4 to 51 years of kend organized by the two local clubs SR and age. In Vantaa, the two local clubs Etela-Van- Bjorninn with a record-breaking number: be- taan Urheilijat and Kiekko-Vantaa hosted a Girls’ tween 80 and 100 girls and women from 4 to Hockey Day together with Ringette Walapais. 50 years of age were on the ice! Most of them tried ice hockey for the first time. I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I WGIHW I Results I Gallery I Feature I i I 18

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NEW ZEALAND: AUCKLAND Sports have brought Canada-born Rachel Park to New Zealand where she has become the head coach of the women’s national team. Af- ter organizing the World Girls’ Ice Hockey Wee- kend in Auckland we had a chat with her about growing the game Down Under. FULL STORY

SOUTH AFRICA The Gauteng Ice Hockey Association with the Sabres Ice Hockey Club and the Vipers Ice The Eastern Province Ice Hockey Association this and does not only host an event this wee- For many players and parents it was a surprise Hockey Club organized one of the World Girls’ hosted a World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend kend but plans a series of girls’ days across that so many young girls play ice hockey and Ice Hockey Weekend events in South Africa in event in Port Elizabeth. 41 participants between Switzerland (Kloten event pictured above). many wanted to join an ice hockey program. the city of Kempton Park. There are 39 girls that 4 and 46 years of came to the ice rink at Baywest FULL STORY FULL STORY participated from the age of 4 to 40 years old. Mall. They performed various hockey drills and had 4-on-4 cross-ice games to showcase their TURKEY: ISTANBUL IRELAND: (UK) The KwaZulu-Natal Ice Hockey Association newly learned skills. One of the largest World Girls’ Ice Hockey Wee- While the Irish Ice Hockey Association hopes to (KZNIHA) once again participated in this an- kend events in terms of participation took pla- soon be able to play at an ice rink in the Republic nual event. Although a small province with the SWITZERLAND ce in one of the largest cities. The Turkish Ice of Ireland, they again headed north to Belfast for fewest number of members in South Africa, the Switzerland is among the top-ranked countries Hockey Federation welcomed about 150 par- the World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend with 26 event attracted 14 girls between the ages of 7 in women’s hockey, currently in fifth place in the ticipants at the Silivrikapi ice rink (photo on top participants at the Dundonald International Ice years and 24 years old. 2019 IIHF Women’s World Ranking. However, right). They were between 2 and 45 years of age Bowl. The youngest participant was nine years when it comes to the size of the player pool, the although most were girls between 5 and 10. old while the oldest were in their 30s. Although small, the event was a huge success Swiss are further behind and can’t keep up with and the girls (and parents alike) had a lot of fun the top nations. First the newcomers were able to follow an ex- ITALY: BOLZANO with most being committed to returning. Subse- hibition game before they were invited to the ice. The Eagles South Tyrol organized the World Gir- quent new queries at the conclusion of the event Recruitment of female players has been a stru- The group of players under 8 played fun games ls’ Ice Hockey Weekend in Bolzano for the first yielded more interest from non-participants and ggle in Switzerland and initiatives like the World while they older group worked on different hoc- time with the theme "Play like a girl". it is hoped that more girls would be drawn to Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend haven’t been used key skills. Hockey certificates were in the end playing ice hockey. as much as in other countries. Former world- ready for all participants. 19 girls between the ages of 5 and 13 from Sou- class goalie Florence Schelling wants to change th Tyrol and the neighbouring province of Trento I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I WGIHW I Results I Gallery I Feature I i I 19

IceTimes October 2019 / Vol. 23, No. 4 followed the invitation. After watching a game of was also a photo area, sweets for the kids and an NHL exhibition game, added a touch of star Carpet Arrival and Opening Night Ceremony. the women’s league and a lunch with the local a lot of balloons in ’s yellow and blue co- power to the Detroit Red Wings Girls Hockey Each girl was paired with one of the NHL pla- players, the junior players became active them- lours as well as in pink. Jamboree for WGIHW. She welcomed more yers and together they walked the Red Carpet selves under the guidance of eight players of the than 50 girls to the Belfor Training Center at Little interacting with Devils fans prior to the game vs Eagles women’s hockey team, many of them “The children really liked the photo zone and Caesars Arena. Winnipeg. Following the Red Carpet Arrival, the national team players. sweets on ice. We also invited the mascot of FULL STORY girls then joined the Devils at center ice as the the IIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championship team was introduced to a sold-out Prudential “The best we all can do for women’s hockey is Division I Group B, everyone liked these big On Friday 20 girls from the Learn to Play Pro- Center crowd. to create opportunities to talk about. The Eagles birds,” said Maria Hromova, manager at the Ice gram were invited to be a part of the Devils Red team is the all-time Italian league champion and Hockey Federation of Ukraine. “All visitors and On Sunday over 60 girls between the ages of two times EWHL winner. This means that our participants were very pleased. We heard a lot 5-12 participated in an station based on-ice cli- organization is already well known in Italy for be- of good comments and thanks from parents.” nic at the RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House ing a forerunner in women’s ice hockey but the at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend was a great featuring special guests Nikki Zajac (University opportunity to boost our fame and to show how of New Hampshire Women’s Ice Hockey Alum many girls are passionate about the best team & wife of Devils forward Travis Zajac), United sport in the world,” said club president Manfred States Olympian Shelly Picard, New Jersey De- Klotz. vils Alumni Bruce Driver & Grant Marshall), mascot NJ DEVIL along with local Some of the girls will now be invited to practices girls high school ice hockey coaches. of the women’s team and the parents were that happy that there’s demand for more such ses- sions throughout the season.

UKRAINE: KYIV USA Almost 70 children from the age of 6 to 12 years came to the World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend The NHL's New Jersey Devils, New York Ran- organized by the Ice Hockey Federation of Ukra- gers and Detroit Red Wings were also part of ine in the capital of Kyiv. the World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend this year.

The ice was split into six zones with three coa- Manon Rheaume, the pioneering Canadian ches and volunteers helping in each area. There national team goalie of the 1990's who played I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I WGIHW I Results I Gallery I Feature I i I 20

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The Budapest-based club sealed their pro- Continental Cup gress through to the next round thanks to a fine 3-1 victory against Ritten in front of Donbass, Ferencvaros reach Round 3 1,278 inside Ritten Arena. Earlier in Group D, Ferencvaros had blanked Txuri-Urdin from By Andy Potts & Henrik Manninen Donostia-San Sebastian 6-0 in their opener, before squeezing past Olimpija 3-2 2020 The last rounds before the during the second day. IIHF Continental Cup final are set following Round Despite fighting on two fronts in the space 2 wins by Hungarian and of one week, Ferencvaros showed little sign Ukrainian clubs. of fatigue in Italy. Having returned from an arduous road trip in the in Roma- nia’s Eastern Transylvania, Ferencvaros only In Group C, Ukrainian champions HC Don- had a few days to regroup before heading to Andrei Maximov, Max Pattis bass topped a Continental Cup group for the Donbass (on left) and Ferencvaros will move on to play in Round 3 of the IIHF Continental Cup in November. South Tyrol in northern Italy for three games first time since it lifted the trophy in 2013. in the Continental Cup. After seven failed attempts between the two In 2017 and 2018, Kurbads Riga beat Don- It wasn’t exactly home ice advantage for the teams, Rudolfs Maslovskis stepped up for bass to top spot at this stage of the com- Following wins against Txuri-Urdin and Olim- Ukrainian Champion; rather than play the tour- Mogo and saw his shot drop down off the petition. The Ukrainians now advance to the pija Ljubljana, Ferencvaros entered the final nament amid the political tensions of the Don- bar and bounce goalwards off the back of third round of the tournament and will face game of Group D against Ritten knowing bass Region, the action took place at Brovary, Stepan Goryachevshikh. The goalie, who lif- (Kazakhstan), Neman Grod- that a win in or penalty-shot shoo- a small town in the Kyiv district. ted the Continental Cup with Yunost in 2007 no (Belarus) and host Cracovia Krakow (Po- tout would see them finish top of Group D. and was part of Donbass’ winning roster in land). However, the host was well supported, with 2013, reacted quickly enough to catch the The reward for Ferencvaros coached by Sza- sell-out crowds for each of its three games, puck before it slithered around the line. Southern Scandinavia awaits for Ferencvaros bolcs Fodor will be a trip to Vojens in Den- and Donbass secured its place in the next Budapest as the reigning Hungarian cham- mark. During the third round of the Continen- round after edging Latvian champion HC The Latvians protested, believing they had a pions swept the field to finish top of Group D tal Cup, Group E played between 15 and 17 Mogo in Sunday’s decisive showdown. goal, but the delay did little to help their own in the Continental Cup’s second round pla- November 2019, Ferencvaros will face the goalie, Kazanovs. He was beaten by Vasiliev yed in Ritten, Italy. of Great Britain, Fran- After a dramatic finish to regulation, the penal- on the next attempt and that proved enough ce’s Amiens Gothiques and hosts Sonder- ty-shot shootout brought even greater tension. to win the game and the group for Donbass. jyskE Vojens. I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I WGIHW I Results I Gallery I Feature I i I 21

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in a 9-2 win over the . The 32-year- CHL playoffs set old American forward is the competition’s all-ti- me scoring leader by a wide margin with 84 Clubs from six countries advance points in 53 career CHL games, and has alre- ady won two scoring titles and one MVP. By Derek O'Brien In goal, a couple of internationally-known na- The Group Stage of the mes topped the stats – Jonas Hiller of EHC 2019/20 Champions Hoc- Biel and Danny aus den Birken of Red Bull key League season is fi- Munich. Hiller led with a 98.48 save percen- nished and 32 teams have tage and 0.50 average while aus den Birken been reduced to 16. posted 97.12 and 0.97.

Six different countries are represented among The eight group winners are: the remaining teams, including five from Swe- EHC Biel (SUI) Didier CharlesDidier den, four from Switzerland, three from Germany, Swiss club Lausane HC will advance to the playoffs for the first time ever. EV Zug (SUI) two from the Czech Republic, surprisingly just Lulea Hockey (SWE) one from Finland and for the first time one team In addition to Group D, another group that went late going and conceded an empty-net goal, re- Lausanne HC (SUI) from Belarus reached the round of the last 16. right down to the end was Group E, which featu- sulting in an Augsburg victory. Skelleftea AIK (SWE) red three strong teams – Skelleftea AIK, Karpat Adler Mannheim (GER) Belarus has had teams come close, with both Oulu and SC Bern – fighting for two spots. In the Surprisingly, only Tampere is going for- Red Bull Munich (GER) and Neman Grodno often playing last game for both teams, Karpat beat Skellef- th from Finland, with HPK Hameenlinna, Karpat Frolunda Gothenburg (SWE) well on home ice but having a difficult time on tea in a shootout and later in the day, Bern beat and Lahti all bowing out. The bad season for the road. This time, in a very competitive Group French champion Grenoble Bruleurs de Loups Finland means that the Finnish , which al- The eight group runners-up are: D where all four teams were still mathematically 3-1 to force a three-way tie in points. ready lost a place in the CHL League Ranking Tappara Tampere (FIN) alive with one game to play, Minsk managed to and a spot in the CHL to Switzerland for this HC Plzen (CZE) win a game on the road, in Finland over the Lah- Heading into the deciding day, 15 of the 16 pla- season, may drop further down in favour of the Augsburger Panther (GER) ti Pelicans.That set the team up for a chance to yoff spots had been decided with Bili Tygri Libe- German DEL and the . Yunost Minsk (BLR) advance at home. They lost 3-2 in a shootout, rec hosting the Augsburger Panther. SC Bern (SUI) which meant they needed Trinec to lose in re- Individually, Frolunda Gothenburg’s Ryan Lasch Djurgarden Stockholm (SWE) gulation time and they did, 5-3 to Lausanne HC, With the score tied 2-2 and needing a regulation led all scorers with 15 points in the group stage, Farjestad Karlstad (SWE) who are also going on for the first time. win to advance, Liberec pulled its goalie in the including 14 assists, thanks to a five-assist night Mountfield Hradec Kralove (CZE) I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I WGIHW I Results I Gallery I Feature I i I 22

IceTimes October 2019 / Vol. 23, No. 4 Gallery Max Pattis A player from Spanish club Txuri Urdin with a scoring chance at the IIHF Continental Cup. Max Pattis Brett Switzer scores a goal for Ferencvarosi TC against Ritten Sport in the deciding game of the IIHF Continental Cup Group D. Members of the New Jersey Devils alumni and players with WGIHW participants. I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I WGIHW I Results I Gallery I Feature I i I 23

IceTimes October 2019 / Vol. 23, No. 4 Gallery Max Pattis Two players collide in the Continental Cup Group D game between Ritten and Ferencvaros hilena C

ntartica A

rovincia P obernacion G A pond hockey tournament - jointly organized by the Governor of the Chilean Antarctic Province and the Aonikenk Magallanes ice hockey club WGIHW participants celebrate after concluding the weekend in Netherlands. from Punta Arenas - was held during the weekend of 6 and 7 July on the frozen Zanartu Lagoon, located just outside Puerto Williams, Chile. I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I WGIHW I Results I Gallery I Feature I i I 24

IceTimes October 2019 / Vol. 23, No. 4

New Zealand has been an IIHF Member since IIHF gears up the 1977, but being geographically isolated from most of the hockey-playing world, acquiring equipment has always been difficult. With few- hockey world er than 1,500 registered ice hockey players, few sporting goods retailers in the country are will- Inside the Equipment Support Program ing to order enough stock to make a shipment cost-effective. By Derek O'Brien “We have one shop and New Zealand called The hockey world is growing, but one of Centre Ice,” said Mills. “They have supported the biggest challenges to the sport’s grow- New Zealand ice hockey as best they can for th is the lack of accessibility to equipment some 25 years, as well as sourcing gear for our in non-traditional hockey countries. That’s existing players. However, with online purchas- where the IIHF Equipment Support Pro- es and limited numbers it’s impossible to sit gram comes in. on endless amounts of stock let alone a huge range of sizes.” The Program was established in 1994, at a time when the IIHF’s membership was rapidly Children in Bulgaria show off their starter ice hockey kits, provided by True Hockey via the IIHF Equipment Support Program. “Being a non-winter country, IIHF Equipment expanding. Its main objective was, and still is, Support plays a vital part in the development of working together with suppliers to distribute kind. This value in kind equipment will be provid- in Malaysia. Other than providing guidance in ice hockey in Malaysia,” said Loh. equipment to Member National Associations ed to MNAs which are in need of equipment to organizing ice hockey programs, the MIHF has (MNAs) in need. support their national development programs.” received equipment support from the IIHF for “Ice hockey gear is not commonly sold in Ma- many years.” laysia, and often players have to purchase their “The IIHF Equipment Support Program is a col- For many IIHF members, this program is crucial equipment from other countries and online laboration between the IIHF, its Member Nation- to development. “We are very lucky to receive IIHF Equipment which are a challenge, especially for beginners al Associations and the contractual suppliers,” Support,” said Andy Mills, President of the New who are just starting to learn the sport. With the said Kira Rieder, the IIHF’s Marketing and Com- “The IIHF has given unparalleled support to the Zealand Ice Hockey Federation. “In 2018, 120 Equipment Support Program, it has opened up munications Manager who acts as a liaison be- Malaysian Ice Hockey Federation since our es- full sets of equipment arrived. This has enabled a lot of opportunities for aspiring players, espe- tween all involved parties. “We have a pool of tablishment in 2006,” said Susan Loh, the as- us not only to get kids on ice safely, but it gives cially youth, to start training and, over time, has eight ice hockey equipment suppliers, which sociation’s president. “The IIHF has been work- us the opportunity to retain kids with gear to use improved the overall quality of the players.” split their contract fee in cash fee and value in ing alongside the MIHF to develop ice hockey over the season.” I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I WGIHW I Results I Gallery I Feature I i I 25

IceTimes October 2019 / Vol. 23, No. 4

Malaysia and New Zealand are just two of 43 for the sport, preparing them to be comfortable MNAs currently receiving equipment support, in gear at an early stage, and allowing them to and with the recent announcement of five new gain confidence in the sport before moving on members in Algeria, Colombia, Iran, Lebanon to purchasing their own personal gear. and Uzbekistan, that number could soon grow. “From this initiative, as of today we have age To qualify for the Equipment Support Program, groups of U15 Boys and Girls, U18 Boys and an MNA must meet the following requirements: Girls, U20 Men’s, Men’s and Women’s,” Loh continued. “Our local ice hockey clubs are most 1. It must be an IIHF member appreciative of the IIHF Equipment Support pro- 2. It must have pre-approved development gram.” plans – only youth and children projects will be supported Muhd Fadzli Amin from the Rimau Ice Hockey 3. The equipment’s usage must fall within Club in Malaysia commented: “The most recent those development plans support the MIHF received was the provision of much-needed goalie equipment, which arrived Petr Briza is a former professional hockey goal- in 2018 and has since benefited five of our very tender and executive from the Czech Republic young club members who are now training as and is now an IIHF Council Member and Chair- IIHF Member National Associations typically receive a delivery of equipment within a year of a successful application. goalies every week. We look forward to more man of the Youth & Junior Development Com- support from the IIHF to assist us in produc- mittee. While CEO and general manger of Spar- others because smaller associations are dealing imagine the smaller ones.” ing quality ice hockey players for our club and ta Prague, Briza established a hockey school for with much smaller human resources and finan- country.” young players from Balkan countries as part of cial resources. Of course, they need equipment. “It was a breeze to apply for the program,” said the IIHF’s Partnership for Progress Program, so Without equipment, you can’t play.” Loh. “We were given full guidance on how many However, with all that’s involved, there are he’s well familiar with the challenges of growing quantities and type of equipment we may need bound to be some difficulties. One of the most the sport in non-traditional markets. And that’s no small matter. As any hockey par- for our association. The equipment we have re- frequently told stories involved a shipment of ent from any country can tell you, equipment ceived is of top quality that can last for years. adult equipment to Mongolia that was meant “Usually, the associations make their requests isn’t cheap. We managed to conduct ‘Learn to Skate’ and for children. through our Committee, which is connected to- ‘Learn to Play’ activities for youth, where the gether with the IIHF office in cooperation with “If you take the example of the Czech Ice Hock- children are able to learn how to skate and ex- “As there are so many people involved in the the Partnership for Progress Program,” said Bri- ey Association, this is one of the biggest in the perience using full ice hockey equipment for the process, it is hard to keep track,” said Rieder, za. “We’re working now with South Africa and world and even it needs equipment, so you can first time. This is important to nurture their love who emphasized that communication is the key I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I WGIHW I Results I Gallery I Feature I i I 26

IceTimes October 2019 / Vol. 23, No. 4

Member National Associations that have benefited from the Equipment Support Program include Austria, Bulgaria, India, Morroco, New Zealand, Oman, Romania, and Singapore. to keeping the program running smoothly. In re- receive it and quickly went to work distributing to grow so much as we can connect with many cent years, the program has become a lot more it around the country. It's been a huge success untapped talent that may remain undiscovered streamlined and incidents such as the one in and our 2019 first shift program is well under- due to a simple reason of not having the right Mongolia are much less frequent. way, attracting more kiwi kids to hang up their equipment to start with.” footy boots and don a pair of ice skates." “We found out that it is best when one person “It’s a fantastic program and supports many from the IIHF keeps track of all shipments,” she The program has increased in scope in the last countries like ourselves,” said Mills. “It’s a true explained. “The direct communication between three years. Between 2016-29, typically 7 – 10 credit to those companies that assist the IIHF supplier and MNA usually doesn’t work very MNAs were supported each season by equip- in growing the game globally and appreciated well. There are too many misunderstandings ment worth of 190’000 - 240’000 USD. To date, worldwide. Without this support, growing New and a lack of experience with handling ship- 43 MNAs of 76 IIHF Member National Associa- Zealand ice hockey gets even harder. So on be- ments. A lot of the federations have never re- tions have received equipment support half of the New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation, ceived such a huge shipment before and a lot its volunteers and most importantly it hundreds of suppliers have never shipped equipment to “We hope that the IIHF Equipment Support will of smiling kids safely wear your equipment, I Mongolia, Macau or the Philippines before.” always continue,” said Amin. “It is crucial and thank the IIHF and all its sponsors for making important, especially for tropical countries like this program a success and reaching our goal “Being so isolated, [the shipment of equipment] us where winter sports are uncommon and the of growing our game.” took over four months to arrive by sea with many supply of good, affordable ice hockey equip- stops,” said Mills. “But we were very excited to ment is not available. It has helped our sports To inquire about the Equipment Support Program contact [email protected] I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I WGIHW I Results I Gallery I Feature I i I 27

IceTimes October 2019 / Vol. 23, No. 4 The 2018/2019 IIHF Season Summary is available now! Partners Coming IIHF SEASON SUMMARY JULY 2018 TO JUNE up 2019

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IceTimes About this issue is a bi-monthly publication by the For information or to subscribe: [email protected] Editor-in-Chief: Adam Steiss (IIHF) International Ice Hockey Federation www.iihf.com Editor: Martin Merk (IIHF)