{
  "id": 11407696,
  "title": "Franz Reindl takes over as International Ice Hockey Federation president in close vote",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/franz-reindl-takes-over-as-international-ice-hockey-federation",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-02T09:43:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/2026/10/02/franz-reindl-takes-over-as-international-ice-hockey-federation-president-in-close-vote"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "ZURICH (AP) — Franz Reindl, a German official, has been elected president of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) by a mere three votes. The election took place in a runoff vote on the Spanish island of Tenerife, after incumbent Luc Tardif decided not to seek re-election. Reindl defeated Petr Bříza 60-57. Both Reindl and Bříza, former players who won Olympic medals, had competed in the first round. Reindl's victory came after he had trailed Bříza 48-36 in the initial voting. The election occurred in Tenerife, following Tardif's announcement in March that he would not run again, citing the need for a younger leader. At 71 years old, Reindl is only two years younger than his predecessor. Reindl's career includes playing for West Germany, where he helped secure a bronze medal alongside the United States and Finland in 1976. Bříza, on the other hand, played as a goaltender for Czechoslovakia when they claimed the bronze in 1992. Prior to his IIHF presidency, Reindl had worked closely with the NHL and served as president of Team Europe during the NHL-run World Cup of Hockey in 2016. Tardif's term was marked by the NHL's return to Olympic hockey at the Cortina Games and the IIHF's decision to exclude Russian teams following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Franz Reindl elected IIHF president with 60 votes to Petr Bříza's 57",
    "Reindl, 71, becomes youngest IIHF president at 2-year margin over predecessor",
    "Reindl's career includes West Germany bronze medal win in 1976"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}