Franz Reindl elected IIHF president after defeating Petr Briza in runoff

Election outcome in Tenerife

Franz Reindl won the presidency of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) during the federation congress held in Tenerife on 2 October 2026. The 71-year-old German official defeated Czech candidate and former goaltender Petr Briza in a runoff vote by a margin of 60 votes to 57. Briza had led the opening ballot with 48 votes against 36 for Reindl, before six of the nine registered candidates withdrew ahead of the decisive round. Reindl becomes the second German to lead world ice hockey, following Günther Sabetzki, who held the presidency from 1975 to 1994.

Term limits and past hurdles

Reindl succeeds France's Luc Tardif, who did not seek another mandate after defeating Reindl 67 to 39 in the 2021 election. That earlier race took place while Reindl faced allegations of breach of trust, an investigation that German public prosecutors subsequently dropped without charges. Reindl stated that the inquiry had harmed his previous bid.

It naturally influenced the election.

Under IIHF statutes, candidates cannot exceed the age of 72. Because Reindl turns 72 in November 2026, he is ineligible to run for another four-year term in 2030, meaning his presidency is strictly limited to four years. Reindl noted that entering office without the prospect of seeking re-election provides unique operational freedom.

You behave differently when you do not need to be re-elected.

Playing career and federation leadership

Born in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Reindl built a long career as a player and executive. On the ice, he won three national league titles and secured an Olympic bronze medal with West Germany at the 1976 Winter Games in Innsbruck. Following his retirement as an active player in 1988, he coached and managed SC Riessersee before joining the German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB) in 1991. He served as DEB president from 2014 to 2022, overseeing silver medals at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics and the 2023 World Championship. He joined the IIHF Council in 2016 and served as vice president of the Champions Hockey League between 2018 and 2022. Frank H. Lutz, chairman of the DEB board, welcomed the election outcome as Germany prepares to host the Men's World Championship in 2027.

Franz Reindl has shaped German ice hockey for decades - as a player, but above all in his various important functions for our federation. That the international ice hockey family now entrusts him with the leadership of the IIHF is a great recognition of his work.

NHL relations and tournament calendar

Reindl identified ties with North America's National Hockey League as his main administrative priority, aiming to avoid recurring disputes over Olympic participation. Top NHL players returned to the Olympic tournament in Milan in February 2026 for the first time since Sochi 2014 after prolonged negotiations. Reindl is also reviewing the structure of the annual IIHF World Championship, which is staged every May during the NHL playoffs and limits elite player availability, opening discussions on whether the tournament should shift to a biennial, triennial, or quadrennial cycle. In addition, the NHL plans to establish its own World Cup of Hockey as a regular event, adding scheduling pressure to the international calendar.

It is important that the calendars are coordinated with each other. I think that we can manage that.