IISHF News - Communication Letter 2024-20

Please see the latest communication from the IISHF

1. IISHF U19 European Championships 2025 and IISHF Women European Cup 2025 The IISHF Working Group for Title Events 2025 has over several meetings (4 meetings in September, October and November 2024) discussed solutions on short/mid/long term with the aim to save the IISHF U19 European Championships (which was unfortunately cancelled in 2024) for the years to come. In constructive cooperation with the Austrian Federation (ISHA) the following is now proposed with a combined IISHF Title Event for the U19 National Teams and Women club teams to take place in Ternitz in the last weekend of August 2025 (29-31.08.2025). The Austrian Federation has requested as many teams as possible to justify hosting (a) Title Event(s) The aim is to have more than the minimum of 4 teams hopefully a minimum of 6 teams and preferably 8, 10 or 12 teams (as a maximum). The proposed options are the following.

Option 1: IISHF U19 European Championships with planned 6 teams – 2 ½ days tournament. This would require the participation of the expected 4 IISHF member countries (Austria, Germany, Great Britain and Switzerland) and a required two (2) invited guest countries where the targeted countries would be neighboring countries to Austria (Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia and in addition Croatia). The participation of 6 national teams would result in a 2½ day event with games starting Friday afternoon. Please note that if option 1 is applied there will not be any way for IISHF to enforce the participation for guest countries so if option 1 is chosen it might take place with a minimum of expected 4 IISHF member countries (Austria, Germany, Great Britain and Switzerland) and will take place as a 2-day event. For a 2-day event the teams should be present and ready for the Opening Ceremony to take place on Friday evening and possibly games on Friday evening after the Opening Ceremony. For a 2½-day event the teams should be present and ready for the Opening Ceremony to take place on Friday midday and games on Friday afternoon and evening after the Opening Ceremony.

Option 2: IISHF U19 European Championships combined with an IISHF Women European Cup – 3 days tournament.

This would require the participation of the expected 4 IISHF member countries (Austria, Germany, Great Britain and Switzerland) and then an optional two (2) invited guest countries where the targeted countries would be neighboring countries to Austria (Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia and in addition Croatia). In addition, the IISHF would invite women club teams from the IISHF member countries to take part in an IISHF Women European Cup where the minimum normally 8 teams from 3 member countries would be adjusted to 6 teams from 3 member countries The participation of 4-6 national U19 teams and 6 women club teams would result in a full 3-day event with games starting Friday morning. The total number of teams participating would then be 10-12 teams. For a 3-day event the teams should be present and ready for the Opening Ceremony to take place on Thursday evening and games to start on Friday morning. Any games on Thursday evening after the Opening Ceremony would only take place if requested by the hosting club and if teams are willing to play on a non-mandatory basis. Feedback required.

Thus, we hereby officially announce that according to point 12.1 IISHF Constitution the IISHF Presidium has imposed the following official deadline for all IISHF National Member Associations to inform all their clubs and their U19 national team:

• about all the updated status for the mentioned IISHF Title Events 2025 (as above)
• to inform and remind their clubs and their U19 national team about the deadline Friday 22 November 2024 (8 days) for feedback regarding options 1 and 2 above
• each NMA should report if they accept point 1 (option of 4-6 teams with a 2 or 2½ days schedule).
• each NMA should report if they accept point 2 and if they have women teams ready to participate in a Women European Cup and if so, how many women club teams (club and team name should be listed if possible) they will send.

The IISHF National Member Associations are also requested (as official deadline according to point 12.1 IISHF Constitution) to provide the IISHF Presidium until Thursday 21 November 2024 a copy of their website publication (or other way of information sent to the clubs). IISHF Regulations 2024 (the current regulations).

The IISHF Regulations regulates the hosting of IISHF Title Evens with the option for the IISHF Presidium to make exceptions.

In this case the IISHF Presidium has decided to reduce the number of required teams to take part in a Continental Cup (Women European Cup) in this case from 8 to 6 teams (§18.13). Further in this case the IISHF Presidium has in addition decided based on a request from the Austrian Federation to place the U19 European Championship in the last weekend of August (§18.15).

§18.13 A Continental Cup can only take place with a minimum of 8 teams and a maximum of 12 teams from a minimum of three (3) different Nations. From these minimum 3 nations at least two nations had to be placed on place 1 – 4 at the previous Continental Cup. Continental Cups for all categories should take place April until the first weekend of July except the weekends of Easter and Whitsun which are reserved only for class B events. For Women, Veterans, Masters and the Men’s Challenge Cup the Continental cups may further take place in the last two weekends of August. Exception is only possible after permission given by the IISHF Presidium.

§18.15 A Continental Championship can only take place with teams from a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 8 different nations. From these minimum 4 nations at least two nations had to be placed on place 1 – 4 at the previous Continental Championship. Continental Championships should take place September to November (both months included). Exception is only possible after permission given by the IISHF Presidium.

On behalf of the IISHF Presidium Erik Sommer (President)