Full Breakdown
Franz Reindl Elected President of the International Ice Hockey Federation
By Drooid · · How we work
Election Outcome
German former forward Franz Reindl was chosen as the new president of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) after a narrow runoff on the Spanish island of Tenerife. He defeated Czech former goaltender Petr Bríza by a margin of three votes, securing a 60-57 victory. The election follows incumbent Luc Tardif’s decision in March not to seek another term, opening the field for a younger leader.
Vote Details and Process
The contest began with a first-round tally that placed Reindl behind Bríza, 48-36. When Kyrgyzstan’s delegate Aivaz Omorkanov was eliminated, his votes shifted, allowing Reindl to overtake Bríza in the decisive runoff. The three-vote margin marks one of the closest presidential selections in IIHF history.
Reindl’s Hockey and Administrative Background
Reindl earned an Olympic bronze medal as a forward for West Germany in 1976, the same tournament where the United States and Finland also placed on the podium. After retiring as a player, he cultivated strong ties with the National Hockey League (NHL), serving as president of Team Europe for the NHL-run World Cup of Hockey in 2016. His previous bid for the IIHF presidency five years earlier ended as runner-up to Tardif.
Implications for IIHF Leadership
Tardif’s five-year tenure was defined by the NHL’s return to Olympic competition at the Milan-Cortina Games and the federation’s exclusion of Russian teams following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. With Reindl now at the helm at age 71—only two years younger than his predecessor—the IIHF may continue its collaborative approach with the NHL while navigating ongoing geopolitical tensions that have shaped recent international hockey policy.
