Hockey Canada finds itself without a seat at the international hockey table, its voice now being handled by an American.
asserted
voice → find → American
In fact, Hockey Canada is on a losing streak that stretches beyond on-ice losses at the Winter Olympics and into the backrooms of the 84-member International Ice Hockey Federation.
asserted
that → stretch → Federation
The sport’s ruling body in this country lost an international suit over jersey sponsorships.
asserted
body → rule → sponsorships
Its president, Katherine Henderson, lost an election for an at-large seat at the IIHF council.
asserted
president → lose → council
Hockey Canada also chose not to have a Canadian stand for election for the Americas and Oceania seat that is a vice-presidency.
asserted
that → choose → seat
Meanwhile, Russia has been manoeuvring behind the scenes to get into the game’s good books, which may have cost Canada its spot in the September congress in Tenerife, in Spain’s Canary Islands, that landed German Franz Reindl the IIHF top job.
uncertain
that → manoeuvre → job
“Newly elected President Reindl is an excellent friend to Canada, and we are looking forward to working with him and all of his colleagues on council to strengthen hockey domestically and internationally, including with the voices of Canadians who are on IIHF committees
asserted
who → elect → committees
,” Hockey Canada told the Star in an email.
asserted
Canada → tell → email
But lots of folks are watching, and talking.
asserted
lots → watch → folks
“It’s a matter of prestige,” said Szymon Szemberg, a former executive with the IIHF and Champions League and now a consultant for European clubs.
asserted
Szemberg → ’ → clubs
“If you’re a country that means so much to hockey as Canada does, you want to have a seat at the table of the executive body of the world governing body where decisions are taken, right?”
asserted
decisions → ’re → body
Szemberg likened it to soccer: “You take it for granted that countries like Argentina, Brazil, Germany, England, Spain are represented on the board of FIFA.”
asserted
countries → liken → FIFA
Canada had been represented on the IIHF council since 1978, apart from 1994-98 when American Walter Bush Jr. held the Americas vice-president position.
asserted
Jr. → represent → position
Tha representation was mostly Hockey Canada presidents, among them Murray Costello and Bob Nicholson, who held the title of regional vice-president (essentially the voice of Canadian, American, Mexican and some other smaller federations).
asserted
who → hold → Canadian
Nicholson was elected unopposed five years ago and has retired.
asserted
Nicholson → elect → ?
Canada decided to step aside this year and let American Mike Trimboli, president of USA Hockey, carry the load, but didn’t explain why.
asserted
Trimboli → decide → load
The Americans haven’t had an IIHF voice in five years, and some surmise the federations may have a handshake agreement to go back and forth.
uncertain
federations → have → agreement
It has been acknowledged privately that the optics of an American speaking for Canadian hockey interests aren’t good in the larger political climate, but there are no concerns within Hockey Canada about Trimboli.
asserted
optics → acknowledge → Trimboli
“As Bob (Nicholson) did throughout his time on council, we know Mike (Trimboli) will be a tremendous advocate for all (federations), including Canada, as we continue to work together with our international colleagues to grow the game both in Canada and around the world,” Hockey Canada wrote to the Star.
asserted
Canada → know → Star
It’s been pointed out that the U.S. did all right, including a pair of Olympic gold medals, without its own voice on the council.
asserted
U.S. → point → council
Still, it’s not like Canada didn’t try.
asserted
Canada → ’ → ?
Henderson lost her bid for an at-large seat, one of four reserved for female voices.
asserted
Henderson → lose → voices
Women from Hungary, Poland, South Korea and Turkey won positions.
asserted
Women → win → positions
“No disrespect, but Mississauga probably has more rinks than those four countries combined,” Szemberg said.
asserted
Szemberg → have → countries
It felt like a rebuke to some.
asserted
It → feel → some
The IIHF chose True, a Canadian company owned by Graeme Roustan, owner of the Hockey News, to make and sell the jerseys to be worn at the federation’s events, including the world juniors, but not at world championships or the Olympics.
asserted
IIHF → choose → championships
Hockey Canada and USA Hockey announced an eight-year agreement with Bauer to make and sell jerseys.
asserted
Canada → announce → jerseys
Canada lost an injunction to stop the IIHF-True deal, with a court in Zurich ordering the Canadians to pay legal costs of about $80,000.
asserted
court → lose → 80,000
The issue of who wears what and when remains unresolved.
asserted
who → wear → what
But Hockey Canada is sticking to its guns that Bauer has Team Canada commercial rights within Canada.
asserted
Bauer → stick → Canada
“Hockey Canada takes tremendous pride in the value of our logo and ownership of our intellectual property, and their value accrues for the benefit of all members of the Canadian hockey community.
asserted
value → take → community
A key element of that ownership includes having the ability to grant exclusive commercial rights to our jersey partner, who, like all partners, are carefully selected to ensure their company reputation, values and quality standards align with those of Hockey Canada and our fans,” Hockey Canada wrote.
asserted
Canada → include → Canada
This (contract) renewal also ensured that the profits of Hockey Canada replica jerseys sold will continue to benefit grassroots programming across the country and our men’s, women’s and para national teams throughout the term of the extension.
asserted
profits → ensure → extension
This could get messy.
uncertain
This → get → ?
It could well be True that makes the jerseys for the world juniors in Edmonton this year, creating the possibility — as mentioned by that Zurich court — that the IIHF and True will create generic red-and-white Canada jerseys to steer clear of any Bauer/Hockey Canada trademarks.
uncertain
IIHF → make → trademarks
Szemberg is fairly certain the jersey issue cost Henderson some votes.
asserted
issue → cost → votes
She has only been with Hockey Canada since 2023, brought in to help restore the credibility of an organization reeling from a sex-assault coverup scandal.
asserted
She → bring → scandal
The residue of that controversy might have cost her more votes.
uncertain
residue → cost → votes
The Russians have no voice in the IIHF, part of an international rebuke for the invasion of Ukraine.
asserted
Russians → have → Ukraine
Russia hasn’t been at the last two Winter Olympics and has been ousted from the world championships, world juniors and every other tournament sanctioned by the IIHF.
asserted
Russia → oust → IIHF
…and 11 more, not listed.
The Aporia
