World Cham­pi­onship prepa­ra­tion: final test once again against Canada

“I am very pleased that we can play our final warm-up game before the World Championship against such a top nation. It will help us raise our level once again shortly before the World Championship,” said Head Coach Roger Bader, who, together with ÖEHV Vice-President Yasmin Stepina, finalised all arrangements at the IIHF Semi-Annual Congress in Rhodes (GRE).

ÖEHV President Klaus Hartmann: “We are very pleased and proud that we have once again succeeded in bringing what is probably the world's most attractive ice hockey nation back to Vienna. As in 2024, our goal is a sold-out Steffl Arena and to benefit economically from this warm-up game as well.”

Initial talks about another Canada appearance were held during the 2024 World Championship in Prague. Further details were discussed in recent months, and the contract was finalised and signed in Rhodes.

“In talks with Hockey Canada in Rhodes, we succeeded in creating added value for fans and the ice hockey family by involving our guests more closely in promoting the game, while there will also be a transfer of knowledge in Vienna among sports managers and decision-makers from both sides. Together with Hockey Canada, we were therefore able to define key points that must now be promoted and marketed,” explained Yasmin Stepina, ÖEHV Vice-President.

Increase in female representation and changes to the Women's World Championship

The Semi-Annual Congress decided that 15 voting members will be elected by the Congress at the next IIHF Council election. For the first time, at least three Council members will be women. In addition, a working group will be established to explore ways of further increasing the proportion of women on the Council in line with the Olympic Charter.

There are also changes in other areas of the IIHF administration. The Congress supported an amendment to the statutes governing the Finance, Audit, Ethics and Operations Committees, as well as the Disciplinary Committee. From the 2026 session onwards, at least one third of the members of these bodies will be women and at least one third will be men.

From the 2025/26 season, the IIHF Women's World Championship will have a new tournament format. The Top Division will continue to be played with 10 teams. The two groups will be formed using “Snake Seeding” to create two evenly matched groups. As a result of this change, the nations finishing last in each group will determine the relegated team in a relegation game. From next season, there will therefore be only one team relegated from the Top Division and only one team promoted from Division IA.

IIHF aiming for 3x3 format at the 2030 Olympic Winter Games

The proposal to introduce 3x3 hockey as an Olympic discipline in 2030 is close to becoming reality. Since the 2017/18 season, the IIHF has developed a 3x3 tournament format and tested various configurations at the 2020 Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne (SUI) and 2024 in Gangwong (KOR). More recently, test events involving older players have been held in various countries, and another tournament is planned in Brazil in November.

The International Olympic Committee is requesting proposals for new disciplines for the 2030 Winter Games in France, and the IIHF is preparing its submission ahead of the deadline in January 2025. A decision is expected in March.