Canada stripped of IIHF council seat in stunning Tenerife defeat
For the first time in decades, Canada holds zero seats on the International Ice Hockey Federation council.
The shutout came after a surprise elimination at the governing body’s semi-annual congress in Tenerife, Spain. Hockey Canada president and chief executive officer Katherine Henderson lost her bid for a council position during Friday’s vote.
Henderson falls short in second round of voting
Henderson fell short in the second of three rounds of voting.
She was running for one of three reserved female seats on the council. Hungary’s Zsuzsanna Kolbenheyer, Turkey’s Merve Tunali, and Poland’s Marta Zawadzka ultimately secured those three spots.
Canada had maintained representation on the IIHF Council since 1978. The only exception was a four-year gap between 1994 and 1998 when American Walter Bush Jr. held the Americas vice-president role.
American Mike Trimboli steps in as vice-president
While Canada lost its direct council seat, the Americas and Oceania region will find representation through American Mike Trimboli.
Trimboli ran unopposed to win election as IIHF vice-president. He replaces former Hockey Canada president and CEO Bob Nicholson.
Nicholson held the post starting in 2012 but chose not to seek re-election. Former Hockey Canada president Murray Costello previously served in the same vice-president role for five years before Nicholson took office.
Global shift brings non-traditional nations to power
The voting results also introduced non-traditional hockey nations to the global governing body.
Turkey’s Tunali, Andy Mills of New Zealand, and Aivaz Omorkanov of Kyrgyzstan secured various roles within the international federation.
Meanwhile, Germany’s Franz Reindl won election to replace outgoing president Luc Tardif. Tardif represents France but was born and raised in Quebec. Petr Briza of Czechia also secured re-election as senior vice-president during the congress.