Germany's Franz Reindl elected new IIHF president

Franz Reindl came from behind to narrowly beat Petr Briza of the Czech Republic in a run-off vote to become the International Ice Hockey Federation's new president on Friday.

Reindl had trailed Briza 48-36 in the first round of voting but picked up crucial votes after Aivaz Omorkanov of Kyrgyzstan was eliminated. He then beat Briza 60-57 in the runoff held on the Spanish island of Tenerife. Six of a total of nine candidates had withdrawn prior to the election.

The 71-year-old German , who had been a member of the IIHF Council since 2016, succeeds Canadian-born Frenchman Luc Tardif , who had announced in March that he would not seek a further term in office. Reindl's election comes 5 years after he had finished as runner-up to Tardif. His term runs until 2030.

Reindl has done it all in German ice hockey, having been a player and coach, as well as serving as the first CEO of the top-flight professional league, the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL), from 1994 to 19 silver medal at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in 2018.

"Franz Reindl has shaped German ice hockey for decades—as a player, but above all through the various key roles he has held within our federation," the current DEB chairman, Frank Lutz, said.

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