Abbreviation | IIHF |
---|---|
Formation | 15 May 1908 |
Type | Sports federation |
Headquarters | Zurich, Switzerland |
Membership
|
76 members |
Official language
|
English French German |
René Fasel | |
Website | www |
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF; French: Fédération internationale de hockey sur glace; German: Internationale Eishockey-Föderation) is a worldwide governing body for ice hockey and in-line hockey. It is based in Zurich, Switzerland, and has 76 members. It manages international ice hockey tournaments and maintains the IIHF World Ranking.
Although the IIHF governs international competitions, the IIHF has no authority and very little influence on hockey in North America, where the rules of modern hockey were developed and where the National Hockey League (NHL) is the most influential hockey organization. Hockey Canada and USA Hockey federations have their own rulebooks, while non-North American federations usually follow the IIHF rules.
Decisions of the IIHF can be appealed through the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The IIHF museum was located within the International Hockey Hall of Fame Museum located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, from 1992 to 1997. After terminating the partnership with the International Hockey Hall of Fame, the IIHF signed an agreement with the NHL to house their museum within the Hockey Hall of Fame. In 1998, the IIHF museum relocated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, occupying over 3,500 square feet (330 m2) within the Hockey Hall of Fame.