Sport is all about winning, and at IHFI, we are always pursuing the ultimate goal of meeting every challenge and achieving the best possible result. Having said that, we have to admit that in recent times, challenges have arisen not only on the ice rink but also off the playing surface. Nonetheless, we are equally pleased to state that we can succeed in any field.
Just a few weeks after an emphatic victory at the IIHF U20 World Championship in Bulgaria, which earned our junior team promotion to Division IIB, we won another battle, this time not on the slippery playing surface but in the solemn tranquility of CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) headquarters.
Canadian judge Nancy Orr issued her verdict on our appeal against the IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) decision to suspend the Israeli national teams at all levels from competing in IIHF-sanctioned events due to so-called “security concerns.” This decision, announced on January 10th, 2024, prompted IHFI to launch a vigorous campaign for its reversal. With unanimous support from national sports authorities, we fought to overturn a decision that threatened to set Israeli hockey back and nullify our recent accomplishments.
After a week of intense and uncompromising battle for our rights, the IIHF finally heeded our voice, lifting the ban—but only for the first of the series of tournaments, the aforementioned U20 World Championship. Thus, the fate of our other three teams (National men’s and women’s, as well as men’s U18) remained unclear.
But now, at last, no uncertainty remains, as Nancy Orr’s ruling clearly states: “The IIHF Council failed to treat the Ice Hockey Federation of Israel on an equal basis to other Member National Associations participating in those tournaments or on an equal basis to other Member National Associations facing a similar situation… The IIHF Council’s decision contradicted and/or ignored the basic principles of equality and equal opportunity.”
Judge Orr ruled unequivocally that this decision was null and void and that Israel was entitled to compete in every tournament like the other national teams. This means that our country will be proudly represented by its athletes at:
2024 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship Division IIB in Spain (March 17-23);
2024 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship Division IIIB in Estonia (March 24-29);
2024 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division IIA in Serbia (April 21-27).