As the IIHF gets ready for an eventful Semi-Annual Congress in Tenerife, Spain, the outgoing President Luc Tardif sat down one last time in a quiet area and reflected on his five years in office. Looking in the rear-view mirror is a much different exercise than dealing with the pressures of the job on a daily basis, but it is a learning experience all the same.
“There are a few things I look back on fondly,” he reflected. “When I first started, we had covid, the war in Ukraine, the war in Israel. We got through that, doing our best, and played all of the World Championships, even if it was without spectators or in the bubble. But in 2024 in Prague, that was our revival. We were in good shape after that, both with hockey and finances. We were back on track. And now as we look ahead to Germany, it’s going to be fantastic. Every time they host, they do a better job than the time before.”
“Another highlight, for sure,” Tardif continued, “was the Olympics in Milan. We had two years of discussions with the NHL to get them back for the first time in 12 years. The impact around the world was incredible. When they play, it’s such a great way to promote the sport all over the world. I’m confident for the future.”
“Lastly, it might not be as much in the limelight, but we have done so much for development in the last five years. We’ve had so many symposiums for coaches, smaller nations, referees, women’s hockey.”
“When I look back at all of this” he added, “I feel nostalgia, a little bit of relief, and satisfaction with how I fulfilled my duty. But I will never be far from ice hockey. I will help France with the 2028 World Championship and then the Olympics two years later, but at my pace. I want to take my time.”
One of Tardif’s goals during his term was to visit each federation, but not like a tourist trying to complete a bucket list. He wanted each trip to be carefully planned and busy with meetings, trying to grow and promote and develop the game in countries big and small. In all, Tardif visited 66 of 84 Member National Associations, but one trip in particular stands out for him.
“Thailand,” he said, without hesitation. “They had built a new rink and invited me to visit, and they said the queen will play hockey in the first game. She studied in Switzerland and learned to play, so I went. After the game, I asked her if she would be an ambassador for female hockey, and she said yes!”
During his travels, Tardif was able to assess the level of many of the federations. The top countries are likely always going to be at the top, but there are many emerging nations that might surprise fans sooner rather than later with their calibre of play.
“There is one, already,” Tardif offered. “Norway. They won the bronze medal at the World Championship. They beat Canada with young players, not NHL players. You see their performance at the World Juniors is improving, and they’re getting more players drafted into the NHL. The program they started ten years ago is now paying off, and they’re improving at every level.”
Tardif was born in tiny Trois-Rivieres, a hockey-mad city in Quebec, Canada. He went on to play pro in Belgium, founded and then worked for years at the French Ice Hockey Federation in Paris, and later five years in Zurich as IIHF president. This was not a journey he ever saw happening. “Never,” he said. “Never. Even at the end, I was the last candidate to announce for the presidency. It has been an amazing journey.”
It is a journey that continues with a new president, but Tardif feels the game is in a good place. “There’s always work to be done. There are always other leagues and companies that want to grab a part of your market. We are a non-profit organization. That means the money we’ve got we spend to develop the game and put on tournaments that don’t make money. The message I want to leave everyone with is, take care of the IIHF. Because no one else will. The challenges are there, but the IIHF is strong.”
As the transition takes place this week, Tardif is adamant about giving the new president some free advice—“Fight for your right. I promised to fight right until the end, which for me is October 2. And the other thing, it’s vital to maintain a balance between the top teams and the smaller countries.”
“There are a few things I look back on fondly,” he reflected. “When I first started, we had covid, the war in Ukraine, the war in Israel. We got through that, doing our best, and played all of the World Championships, even if it was without spectators or in the bubble. But in 2024 in Prague, that was our revival. We were in good shape after that, both with hockey and finances. We were back on track. And now as we look ahead to Germany, it’s going to be fantastic. Every time they host, they do a better job than the time before.”
“Another highlight, for sure,” Tardif continued, “was the Olympics in Milan. We had two years of discussions with the NHL to get them back for the first time in 12 years. The impact around the world was incredible. When they play, it’s such a great way to promote the sport all over the world. I’m confident for the future.”
“Lastly, it might not be as much in the limelight, but we have done so much for development in the last five years. We’ve had so many symposiums for coaches, smaller nations, referees, women’s hockey.”
“When I look back at all of this” he added, “I feel nostalgia, a little bit of relief, and satisfaction with how I fulfilled my duty. But I will never be far from ice hockey. I will help France with the 2028 World Championship and then the Olympics two years later, but at my pace. I want to take my time.”
One of Tardif’s goals during his term was to visit each federation, but not like a tourist trying to complete a bucket list. He wanted each trip to be carefully planned and busy with meetings, trying to grow and promote and develop the game in countries big and small. In all, Tardif visited 66 of 84 Member National Associations, but one trip in particular stands out for him.
“Thailand,” he said, without hesitation. “They had built a new rink and invited me to visit, and they said the queen will play hockey in the first game. She studied in Switzerland and learned to play, so I went. After the game, I asked her if she would be an ambassador for female hockey, and she said yes!”
During his travels, Tardif was able to assess the level of many of the federations. The top countries are likely always going to be at the top, but there are many emerging nations that might surprise fans sooner rather than later with their calibre of play.
“There is one, already,” Tardif offered. “Norway. They won the bronze medal at the World Championship. They beat Canada with young players, not NHL players. You see their performance at the World Juniors is improving, and they’re getting more players drafted into the NHL. The program they started ten years ago is now paying off, and they’re improving at every level.”
Tardif was born in tiny Trois-Rivieres, a hockey-mad city in Quebec, Canada. He went on to play pro in Belgium, founded and then worked for years at the French Ice Hockey Federation in Paris, and later five years in Zurich as IIHF president. This was not a journey he ever saw happening. “Never,” he said. “Never. Even at the end, I was the last candidate to announce for the presidency. It has been an amazing journey.”
It is a journey that continues with a new president, but Tardif feels the game is in a good place. “There’s always work to be done. There are always other leagues and companies that want to grab a part of your market. We are a non-profit organization. That means the money we’ve got we spend to develop the game and put on tournaments that don’t make money. The message I want to leave everyone with is, take care of the IIHF. Because no one else will. The challenges are there, but the IIHF is strong.”
As the transition takes place this week, Tardif is adamant about giving the new president some free advice—“Fight for your right. I promised to fight right until the end, which for me is October 2. And the other thing, it’s vital to maintain a balance between the top teams and the smaller countries.”