Publisher: International Ice Hockey Federation, Editor-in-Chief: Jan-Ake Edvinsson Editors: Kimmo Leinonen and Szymon Szemberg, Layout: Szymon Szemberg, Photos: IIHF Archives Zürich, City Press, Berlin November 2001 - Vol. 5 - No 5 We need to protect our stars In September Peter Forsberg felt that his body couldn’t take it anymore. He announced that he was taking a leave of absen- ce. “It is very disturbing that a The Olympic Games in Salt Lake City player who is in his prime has will go on. This is the straight forward to make such a decision message from Mitt Romney, CEO of because he has taken so much the Salt Lake Organizing Committee abuse over the last couple of (SLOC). years.” In a letter to all involved sports federa- tions, Romney writes that the federal I 28-year-old Peter government has appropriated approxi- Forsberg, who led Sweden to mately $200 million for Olympic Winter a gold medal over Canada in Games security. Additional federal fun- the 1994 Olympics, made the ding of approximately $30-40 million is announcement during also “extremely likely” to be appropria- Colorado's training camp in ted. SLOC’s budget includes approxi- Stockholm, Sweden in mid September. mately $35 million of safety spending “I just feel that right now, in as well. my current frame of mind, I A structure has been worked out to can't go out and play at the ensure that relevant intelligence infor- level I expect out of myself," mation is shared with state and local Forsberg said to the media. law enforcement and SLOC so that “Over the last few years, the necessary actions can be taken. numerous injuries and the After meetings with the President of the recent surgeries made me come to this decision.” United States, the FBI, Secret Service “I think I need to sit back and and the Governor of Utah, Romney listen to my body. I'm not get- says that “their commitment was ting younger. My body has unqualified” and that “every agency and been taking a lot of abuse, a lot of beating the last few representative of government has assu- Photo: JEFF VINNICK years. I need to heal my red us that the recources necessary to Out - for how long?: In the last Olympics the hockey world could not watch secure the Games will be provided.” body. I don't know how long Paul Kariya’s outstanding skills and in Salt Lake City we will miss Peter Romney completes his letter saying it's going to take.” Forsberg, probably the best all-round player in the world right now. I “This is obviously a big that no consideration has been given to blow to the game of ice hockey", says IIHF Fasel wants to make clear that that career cancelling the Games. President René Fasel. “It is very disturbing that ending injuries or series of injuries is a global “In fact, in many respects, continuing a player who is in his prime has to take a leave hockey dilemma. “I am being told that in with the Games is more important than of absence or even retire because he has Sweden more than ten elite players had to reti- ever. The Games are a symbol of civili- taken so much abuse over the last couple of re prematurely in the last two seasons due to zation, an affirmation of the family of years.” injuries. We also have had alarming reports of mankind. NOCs, International “This is primarily about Peter’s health. But, careless hits to the head in the Czech league. I unless unexpected things happen, we will miss want to emphasize what we are telling our Federations, Sponsors, and athletes referees at all clinics and camps: There is no have consistenly spoken in favor of hol- his seeing his world class skills in Salt Lake City. We couldn’t watch the outstan- such a thing as a legal check to ding the Winter Games, on schedule. ding Paul Kariya play in Nagano the head.” I The Games will go on.” 1998 because he was out with a con- “I am therefore very pleased that cussion after a careless hit to the the NHL announced prior to the start head.” of the season that their referees will The Swedish daily tabloid Aftonbladet listed a be more diligent in calling hits to the head, chronology of all Forsberg's injuries since 1996. slashings and obstructions. This is especially According to that list Forsberg has suffered 20 relevant this season when a group of IIHF and serious injuries in the last five seasons, seven NHL referees together will be officiating the of the injuries were to his head. At least five of Olympic hockey tournament.” them resulted in some sort of concussions. “Finally, and on a different note, the global I “This makes me even more convinced that the sports family agrees that we can not yield to International Ice Hockey Federation IIHF initiative of “Fair Play and Respect” is extreme- terror. The Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake Parkring 11, 8002 Zürich, Switzerland ly important. In many cases players do not have City must go on as planned.” Phone: +41-1-289 86 00, Fax: +41-1-289 86 20 enough respect for each other. We have to bring René Fasel Internet: www.iihf.com E-mail: [email protected] back the sense fair play and respect to the game.” IIHF President November 2001 - Vol. 5 - No 5 IIHF Semi-Annual Congress: Macedonia and Liechtenstein new members of ice hockey family The IIHF Semi-Annual Congress was held FINNISH VENUES: The organising committee in Malmo, Sweden, October 4 - 6. These of the 2003 IIHF World Championship in Finland announced Helsinki, Turku and were the main issues and announcements Tampere as the host cities for the 2003 cham- from the congress at the Malmo City Hall. pionship. This will be the last IIHF World Championship played in three cities. From NHL AGREEMENT RATIFIED BY ALL: IIHF 2004 and onwards only two cities will be allo- President René Fasel announced that all wed to host the tournament. European nations have ratified the agreement regarding the distribution of the development OLYMPIC OFFICIALS ASSIGNMENT: The fee from the NHL to the IIHF. The basic (three- congress approved the nominations of the fol- year) agreement between the IIHF and the lowing IIHF referees for the 2002 Olympic NHL was signed on June 9, 2001. The details Winter Games, Men´s Tournament: Kevin of the IIHF-NHL agreement and the agreement Acheson (CAN), Rami Savolainen (FIN), Scott regarding the distribution of the funds were Hansen (USA), Ulf Radbjer (SWE), Danny accounted for in the previous IIHF News Kurman (SUI), Vladimir Mihalik (SVK). Release. Women´s tournament: Laura Vanderhorst (CAN), Jacqui Palm (CAN), Anu Hirvonen OUT OF COMPETITION TESTING: The con- (FIN), Anne Haanpaa (FIN), Stacey Livingston gress approved the proposal from the World (USA), Krista Knight (USA). See separate list Anti Doping Agency (WADA) that the IIHF on this page for complete listing of all IIHF member national associations will be a part of referees and linesmen. WADA´s out of competition testing program. (Officials from the National Hockey League will be named later by the NHL. The IIHF-NHL NEW IN THE FAMILY: The congress accepted Olympic agreement stipulates that all games, Macedonia and Liechtenstein as new member where more than 50 percent of the participants national associations of the IIHF, which brings are playing in the NHL, will be handled by NHL Turned 60: Jan-Ake Edvinsson, General the total of national member associations to 63. officials.) Secretary of the IIHF since 1985. The status of Mongolia and Ireland was upgra- ded to full membership. STANDBY TRIO FOR 2004: After a swap with Finland earlier this year, the Czech Republic Edvinsson 60 EHL RE-LAUNCH ON HOLD: IIHF Council were awarded the 2004 IIHF World member Rickard Fagerlund (SWE) announced Championship in order to allow them additional Has seen the hockey world that the earliest possible date for the re-launch time to complete a structure of a new arena in of the European Hockey League (EHL) would Prague. Germany, Switzerland and Canada become bigger and better bethe 2003-04 season. “Our commercial part- have announced their interest as stand-by When former IIHF President, Gunther ner, along with the IIHF, needs 9-12 months to organisers in case the completion of a new Sabetzki recruited Jan-Ake Edvinsson be able to find appropriate formats for a new arena in the Czech Republic is not possible. If to the International Ice Hockey EHL. We need this time to present a feasible necessary, a stand-by organiser will be named Federation as the new General project”, said Mr. Fagerlund. by the IIHF Council in December 2001. Secretary in 1985, the IIHF had 37 member national federations. During the Semi-Annual Congress in Malmo in the beginning of October, the IIHF IIHF referees and linesmen for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games accepted Macedonia and Liechtenstein MEN’S TOURNAMENT Palm, Jacqui CAN as members 62 and 63. Referees: Vanderhorst, Laura CAN This gives some perspective on how Acheson, Kevin CAN Linesmen: the ice hockey family has grown with Hansen, Scott USA Bissonnette, Julie CAN Jan-Ake Edvinsson as General Kurmann, Danny SUI Cassidy, Sue CAN Secretary. Mihalik, Vladimir SVK Hujdusova, Henrieta SVK On September 13, Jan-Ake celebrated Radbjer, Ulf SWE Kirschner, Tina GER his 60th birthday and he also looked Savolainen, Rami FIN Konstantinova, Marina RUS back at his 16 year tenure at the IIHF. Linesmen: Lischetti, Sandra SUI Born 1941 in the south Swedish com- Blumel, Petr CZE Kurmann MacKenzie, Megan L USA munity of Trolle Ljungby, Edvinsson Bruun, Panu FIN Piacentini, Julie USA mostly played table tennis and soccer Garofalo, James USA Robben, Ilse NED in his home country.