NEWS FROM THE IHA BOARD – JUNE 2021

CONTENTS:

1. Board message
2. IIHF Annual Congress
3. IIHF World Championships update
4. Australian National Team Coaching Staff Extensions
5. 2021 Goalie Coaching Symposium (7 & 8 August 2021)
6. AGM announcement
7. Provide feedback

Dear members,

Despite the continued temporary border closures and travel constraints due to the pandemic, it is great to hear that the Australian hockey community is up and back playing the sport albeit with some changes. IHA was also pleased to hear about hockey gaining increased popularity in a couple of our affiliate members, Tasmania and the Australian Defence Force, as well as the Northern Territory. Fantastic work by all our volunteers not only through our member associations but also our affiliates and up-and-coming territories.

In late May IHA announced that Ms. Gill McLean was stepping down from her role as IHA’s Australian Junior Ice Hockey League (AJIHL) Commissioner. True to Gill’s unwavering support for Australian ice hockey she offered to assist in a transition role. Gill has been a fabulous promoter and servant to the development of the AJIHL since taking on the role some three years ago. She will be sadly missed, and we wish her all the best in her future.

The IHA Board has been busy during May, meeting five times, and meeting with the IIHF with regard to the 2022 World Championships (see below). We trust you will enjoy the update on our national teams and world championships below, and in next month’s Hockey Hub we will focus more on some of the great work being done domestically and at the state/club level.

• Thank you for taking the time to read the board update.

 – Ice Hockey Australia Board

2. IIHF ANNUAL CONGRESS

The IIHF recently held its Annual Congress meetings in Latvia, Riga which took place in conjunction with the IIHF Men’s World Championships.

Although the Congress was held in person, Vice President Jimmy Dufour was able to attend virtually to represent IHA. During the Congress, a new unified rulebook was passed which will be distributed shortly with implantation steps already in motion. In addition, the IIHF announced that it intends to hold its World Championships at all levels.

IHA is excited at the prospect of again having our teams compete on the international stage and hope that will be possible notwithstanding the current pandemic and its impacts on travel.

3. IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

At the recent IIHF Annual Congress (see above) all 2022 IIHF World Championships were awarded and the great news is that the intention is that they will all take place as planned. After the disappointment of some world championships being cancelled in 2020 and all world championships being cancelled in 2021, I am sure all Australian hockey fans join the IHA Board and wish our Australian team representatives good fortune over the coming months so that the 2022 championships stay on track.

Men’s U20 Division 3 Group A: Queretaro, Mexico from 9/01/2022 – 16/01/2022

Women’s U18 Division 2 Group A: Dumfries, Great Britain from 25/01/2022 – 28/01/2022

Please note that this is not yet confirmed given Covid-19 restrictions in Great Britain, and is set to be determined during the IIHF Semi-Annual Congress on 22-25 September 2021.

Women’s Division 2 Group B: Croatia from 6/03/2022 – 12/03/2022 (city to be confirmed)

Men’s U18 Division 2 Group B: Sofia, Bulgaria from 21/03/2022 – 27/03/2022

Men’s Division 2 Group A: Croatia from 24/04/2022 – 30/04/2022 (city to be confirmed)

Given the risk and uncertainty that the Covid-19 pandemic and travel restrictions continue to create, IHA will continue to monitor the situation and work closely with the coaching staff and management of each team to work towards our ability to attend and compete.

4. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL TEAM COACHING STAFF EXTENSIONS

• Following the IIHF’s announcement at the Annual Congress that the 2022 World Championships are to be held, IHA is pleased to confirm the extensions of the following coaching staff:
•  
• – National Women’s Team – Stuart Philps (Head Coach) & Paul Graham (Assistant Coach)
• – National Senior Men’s Team – Matti Luoma (Head Coach) & Mick Flaherty (Assistant Coach)
• – National Junior U20’s Team – Dave Ruck (Head Coach) & Jason Kvisle (Assistant Coach)
• – National U18’s Women’s Team – Tamra Jones (Head Coach) & Remi Harvey (Assistant  Coach)National Youth U18’s Team – Dave Ferrari (Head Coach), Marc Villancourt (Assistant Coach) & Dave Costa (Assistant Coach)

IHA congratulates all the above coaches and thanks them for their continued efforts.

5. 2021 GOALIE COACHING SYMPOSIUM (7 & 8 AUGUST 2021)

IHA is pleased to announce that the 2021 IHA Goalie Coaching Symposium will be held online in the first week of August 2021. Sera Dogramaci, IHA’s Goaltending Development Manager, says that the purpose of the symposium is “to provide our hockey community an opportunity to holistically develop goaltending knowledge and learn from experts”.

As with many events during this pandemic, the symposium will be held for the first time virtually and limited to coaches with a minimum Level 1 IHA Coaching Accreditation (or equivalent) to keep content specific and relevant. The on-ice high-performance component originally planned as part of the symposium will be postponed to 2022.

IHA acknowledges the great initiative put forward by Sera and encourages members to put forward virtual development ideas through their Member Association or direct them to IHA for consideration.

6. AGM ANNOUNCEMENT

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Ice Hockey Australia Ltd (IHA) will be held virtually on 24 July 2021 at 10 am AEST. The agenda for the AGM includes the presentation of the 2021 Annual Report including financial statements and an independent auditor’s report, as well as the announcement of awards. Following the AGM an announcement to all members will be provided in the subsequent Hockey Hub monthly newsletter.

7. WE VALUE YOUR FEEDBACK

We value your feedback, so please write to us here if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.