After a two-round vote to replace IIHF President Luc Tardif, Franz Reindl today was voted in as new President of the International Ice Hockey Federation, following stints as an IIHF Council member and President of the German Ice Hockey Federation.
Reindl, a former player for West Germany and coach for the German national team, becomes the fifteenth IIHF President in history, and only the second German after Gรผnther Sabetzki, who served from 1975-94. He has served on the IIHF Council since 2016, and becomes President following his shortfall at becoming President in the 2021 election that saw his predecessor Tardif appointed. After a runoff vote against IIHF Senior Vice-President Petr Bลรญza of Czechia, Reindl won the second round with a 60-57 vote count at the IIHF Semi-Annual Congress in Tenerife, Spain.
Reindl replaces French-Canadian native Tardif, who served as IIHF Treasurer since 2016, and has been an IIHF council member since 2012, previously heading the French Ice Hockey Federation. Named to replace the controversial Renรฉ Fasel in 2021, Tardif oversaw the return to play for the IIHF following the COVID-19 pandemic, including the return of ice hockey to the 2022 Beijing Olympics, which would end up being the final Olympics without NHL participation. Tardif secured a deal with the NHL and NHLPA to see the world’s top professionals return to the Games in 2026, along with future Olympics in 2030 and 2034. Tardif also developed and launched the IIHF’s ICE26 strategic plan, which includes an expanded and updated World Championship divisional structure, and the introduction of international 3-on-3 hockey. Announcing last year he would step down, he was made a surprise late entry to the IIHF Hall of Fame last May.
Our congratulations go out to Reindl, Tardif, and the entire IIHF Congress on their new appointments.
