I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I Competition I Gallery I Interview I i IceTimesTimMarch 2021 V e/ol. 25, N o.s 1 Back in the game 2021 World Juniors recap IIHF Development Hub goes online I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I Competition I Gallery I Interview I i 2 IceTimes March 2021 / Vol. 25, No. 1 From the IIHF President played. There were countless meetings, dis- which did such a great job hosting back in once more. cussions, and deliberations as the IIHF toge- 2014, we can state with confidence that we ther with the local organizing committee for- did everything possible to evaluate all the op- mulated its requirements for COVID-19 team tions available to us. This included visits with Moving forward and staff protocols. These mandated that the the Belarus head of state which, while it was teams arrive weeks earlier than usual, under- not viewed positively by the public, was ne- By René Fasel go pre-and post-arrival quarantine measures, vertheless necessary to get the information and subject themselves to daily COVID-19 we needed to give to the IIHF Council to make The start of the 2020/21 season saw testing until departure. an informed decision. In the end, the Coun- hockey return under very challen- cil made the right choice and we are looking ging circumstances. As we prepare to The resources and manpower required to do forward to a safe and secure tournament in bring back more tournaments, we look this were huge. But thanks to a superhuman Riga. forward with caution but also with opti- effort from the organizers and diligent moni- mism. toring and coordination by the IIHF, we suc- We also look forward to hosting two other ceeded in operating all games on schedule. top division events, the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey We knew that this season the IIHF, together This was a huge success in itself, but also be- U18 World Championship and the 2021 IIHF with the participating teams, the organizing cause we now have a workable blueprint for Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship. committees, and all staff and players were future events. It is our goal to work again with the organi- going to be asked for patience, flexibility, and zers and teams to ensure that we create the a willingness to go beyond what is normally Which brings me now to the World Cham- best conditions for these players to be able needed to ensure that an IIHF tournament will pionship. With the World Juniors we did not to represent their countries back on the ice. be successful. leave anything to chance, and this approach has been the same for the IIHF’s flagship To all our members that were not able to par- This was no more apparent than at the 2021 event. ticipate in the IIHF Championship program IIHF World Junior Championship in Edmon- this year, we thank you for your patience and ton. By the time Team USA won its fifth World The objective for this tournament has never understanding, and we hope that the assis- Juniors gold medal, it was also clear that the- changed: we needed to do everything possi- tance we have offered through the launch se efforts and sacrifices were not in vain. ble to hold this event, and this event could not of the new IIHF Development Hub (more on possibly be held without ensuring safety and Page 10) and in our upcoming webinar ses- From the time the tournament was confirmed security for everyone. While it is with great sions will help you to continue your work on to go ahead in a competition bubble, it was regret that we have had to move the World the growth of ice hockey in your countries, never fully certain that the Juniors could be Championship away from co-host Belarus, until we are all ready to hit the ice together I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I Competition I Gallery I Interview I i 3 IceTimes March 2021 / Vol. 25, No. 1 International Federation Governance review. • Creation of an Independent Ethics Board Action Award from the IOC and its official carbon News and Notes with members elected by the Congress (Board partner DOW. The review, commissioned by the Association of mandate takes effect in 2021 due to COVID-19) International Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF), Launched in 2019, the Awards – which form IIHF OFFICE place the IIHF in category A1/A2 with 165 points. • Clear requirements and procedures for part of the IOC-DOW Carbon Partnership – The IIHF 5-point lag behind the top A1 category organizations to become IIHF members and were created to inspire further climate action by The IIHF has announced that Aku Nieminen was due to the delay of the implementation detailed accountability requirements for MNAs recognising the sustainability efforts of key sports has resigned his position as Membership of certain governance items, resulting from once they become members (IIHF Audit rights) organisations within the Olympic Movement. Development Manager within the Sport rescheduling the 2020 IIHF Annual Congress for • Procurement Policy and Procedures for the Department. His position will be filled ad- COVID-19 reasons. IIHF and Hosts of IIHF Championships The Environment & Sustainability Committee interim by IIHF Youth and Junior Development was formed to promote climate action and Committee Member Johan Bollue. The governance review is independently • Financial clarity and transparency contribute to a sustainable environment for conducted involved 50 indicators in various ice hockey. The Committee has overseen IIHF Compliance Officer Simona Richiger governance criteria, including Transparency, • Creation of a clearer, more robust and numerous initiatives in the past years, including has resigned her position within the IIHF Legal Integrity, Democracy, Development and Control accountable Integrity Program (Anti-Doping, encouraging its Member National Associations Department. Mechanisms. Match Fixing, Abuse and Harassment – including to find ways to reduce their carbon footprint. racism, and Ethics) – Integrity Hub; IIHF Marketing & Event Coordinator Victoria Click here to access the Some of the major examples of MNAs’ work in Metzger resigned from her position in the IIHF International Governance Review • IIHF Environmental and Social Responsibility this field include a unique project to recycle arena Marketing & Communications Department. Guidelines and Manual for IIHF Championship water in South Africa, and providing sustainable From 2016 to 2020, the IIHF implemented the Hosts transport for accredited personnel at the 2017 IIHF Event Manager Nicolas Marbach following good governance actions: IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. resigned his position within the IIHF Event IIHF SUSTAINABILITY Department. • Separation of Powers between an operational Click here to access the office and a strategic Council The IIHF has earned recognition for the second IIHF Environment & Sustainability projects The IIHF wishes good luck and best straight year from the International Olympic wishes to Aku, Simona, Victoria, and Nicolas • Clearer and more robust Council Eligibility Committee for its actions in promoting climate As part of the recognition, the IFs and NOCs in their future endeavours. requirement, Council Campaigning Procedures action and sustainability. will receive carbon offsets to compensate and Rules, and Council election requirements their 2020 unavoidable residual emissions. IIHF GOVERNANCE (minimum votes required to be elected and On 6 November, the IOC announced that These include a diverse set of climate vetting by an independent auditor) the IIHF together with 14 other International solutions, from conserving ecosystems and The IIHF has been named among the top-ranked Sport Federations and five National Olympic avoiding deforestation to energy efficiency and winter-sports federations in an independent • Council Term Limits Committees have received the 2020 Carbon renewable energy. I Welcome I Bulletin I IIHF I Competition I Gallery I Interview I i 4 IceTimes March 2021 / Vol. 25, No. 1 2021 IIHF ICE HOCKEY The two venues are located north of Dallas tournament’s operation, the IIHF, tournament may be able to attend games in Halifax and U18 WORLD and are approximately 15 minutes apart by car. host Hockey Canada, and the nine Truro. The exact capacity will be known closer CHAMPIONSHIP Comerica Center in Frisco (pictured, bottom other participating IIHF member national to the tournament and will be used primarily left) will be the primary venue and home of associations held virtual meetings to evaluate to honour existing ticket commitments. The IIHF Council and the Group B with host USA, Russia, the Czech the capabilities of teams to travel for the participating teams have Republic, Finland and Germany, and host two tournament. Meanwhile, the host committee It will be the first top-level IIHF Ice Hockey approved the change of quarter-final games, both semi-finals and the has been working with several government Women’s World Championship since 2019 venues and amended dates of the 2021 IIHF medal games. Comerica Center is home to the departments at federal and provincial level due to the cancellation of all IIHF tournaments Ice Hockey U18 World Championship in the Dallas Stars’ practice facility and offices. to ensure a safe environment for players and scheduled in the spring of 2020 when the United States. staff. pandemic broke out – and it will be the last Children’s Health StarCenter in Plano will host opportunity for the participating teams to play The event will be hosted by USA Hockey Group A with Sweden, Canada, Belarus, During a recent call with the participating at that level prior to the 2022 Olympic Winter in conjunction with the NHL’s Dallas Stars in Latvia and Switzerland as well as two quarter- teams, the IIHF pledged to increase its financial Games. Frisco and Plano, Texas, from 26 April to 6 May final games. support for the tournament, in order to reduce 2021.