The New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation (NZIHF)

Ice hockey in New Zealand is played in Auckland, Christchurch and also in Otago/Southland. There are three official Regions registered with the NZIHF. Auckland, Canterbury and Southern. Each Region holds it's own leagues in the respective age groups and is responsible for conducting these competitions. The NZIHF is administered by a committee made up of 12 people, each Region having no more than 4 delegates on a representative basis. (NZIHF Constitution). The President is elected for a two-year term at the NZIHF Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in February each year. Other committee positions are elected annually. (Contacts)

Activities

The NZIHF oversees all ice hockey activities in New Zealand this includes;

• The organisation of National Leagues and National Championships. (Events)

• The organisation of the annual Skate-of-Origin game.

• The selection of New Zealand teams to participate in IIHF World Championships and other events. (New Zealand Teams)

• The selection of players to participate in IIHF player development camps.

• Hosting of IIHF world championships from time-to-time.

• Hosting of overseas teams touring New Zealand from time-to-time.

• Development programmes for coaches, players and referees.

• Sanctioning teams from New Zealand participating in overseas friendship tournaments.

• Publishes policies and manuals applicable to New Zealand Ice Hockey
      - Youth Protection Policy (December 2012) <new>

The NZIHF is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and is represented at IIHF Congresses usually by the President. Membership of the IIHF gives the NZIHF access to the IIHF World Championships, IIHF Development Camps and also the Equipment Support Program for developing countries.

History of Ice Hockey

The game was first played on frozen lakes and waterways in Canada, players using crude sticks to hit a piece of wood into the goals. In 1893 Lord Stanley gave the Stanley Cup for amateur competition. In 1910 the Stanley Cup became the award for the winners of the professional league play-offs.

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) was formed in 1908 when delegates from France, England, Belgium and Switzerland met in Paris. The first European Championship was played in 1910. In 1920 the Olympic Games were held in Antwerp, Belgium and ice hockey was introduced for the first time. This was the first time teams from beyond the seas had participated when Canada and the USA proved too strong for the Europeans. At this time Canada and the USA became members and for the first time the Federation extended beyond Europe. In 1930 the first World Championship was held in Chamonix and the best-placed European team was named European Champion. Canada emerged victorious in 1930 and that year Japan became a member extending the Federation into Asia and the Pacific. Over following years apart from interruptions caused by war, IIHF World Championships were held every year except Olympic years. From 1992 onwards IIHF World Championships have also been held on Olympic years.

History of Ice Hockey in New Zealand

The sport has been played in New Zealand for over 70 years and started in the South Island high country where farmers and farm workers played on frozen ponds and lakes. The first organised ice hockey tournament was played at Opawa, near Albury in South Canterbury in 1937 when Wyndham Barker gave a trophy called the Erewhon Cup. A meeting was held afterwards and the New Zealand Ice Skating Association formed. Ice hockey was always the poor relation in the NZISA and it wasn't until 1986 when the New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation was formed at a meeting at Lake Tekapo that ice hockey began to flourish. New Zealand's international debut was at the IIHF D Pool World Championships in Perth, West Australia in 1987 where the team won the Bronze medal. In 2010 the NZIHF will be celebrating it's 25 Anniversery.

New Zealand Senior teams have competed at World Championships regularly since 1995, but success has been elusive and the standard of competition very high. Junior teams began competing in the IIHF Asian/ Oceania Junior Championships in 1998. In 1999 a Bronze medal was achieved in Division 2 of these Championships, and in 2000 the New Zealand Juniors won the Gold Medal in Thailand.

New Zealand teams have regularly crossed the Tasman to play games in Australia against State teams.

NZIHF Life Members

1999 Ron O'Reilly
2009 Peter Anderson
2009 Darren Blong
2009 Ian Craven
2009 Graeme Glass
2009 Sue Maher
2009 Ed Mason
2009 Jerome Raateland
2009 Trish Roux de Buisson
2009 Neal Roux de Buisson
2009 Marianne Scott
2009 Robin WIlson
2010 Charlie Reid
2010 Ivana Gaffikin