Franz Reindl was elected the 15th president of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) on October 2, 2026, marking a significant leadership change for the sport’s global governing body. During the IIHF Semi-Annual Congress in Tenerife, Spain, Reindl secured the presidency through a narrow second-round runoff victory, overcoming an early deficit in the voting process.
The 71-year-old German official trailed Czechia’s Petr Bříza after the first round of voting. Bříza initially led with 48 votes, followed by Reindl with 36 and Aivaz Omorkanov with 33. However, in the head-to-head runoff between the top two candidates, Reindl defeated Bříza by a margin of 60-57.
Reindl succeeds Luc Tardif, who announced in March 2026 that he would not seek re-election. The victory returns the IIHF presidency to Germany for the first time in over three decades; Reindl is the first German to lead the organization since Gunther Sabetzki, who served from 1975 to 1994. Reindl’s career in the sport includes a bronze medal with West Germany at the 1976 Olympics and a long tenure as the founding CEO of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).
Shift in International Governance
The election results also signaled a major shift in the federation’s executive council, most notably regarding North American representation. Hockey Canada CEO Katherine Henderson failed to secure enough votes for a council seat, leaving Canada without representation on the IIHF’s primary governing board.
While Canada lost its position on the council, other regional leadership roles were finalized during the congress. Mike Trimboli of the United States was elected as the Regional Vice-President for Americas and Oceania, while South Korea’s Susie Jo was elected as the Regional Vice-President for Asia.
Reindl’s presidency begins as the federation manages the upcoming international calendar and continues to navigate the logistical and political challenges of global competition. His experience organizing three World Championships is expected to be a primary focus as he takes over the four-year term.
