General Assembly Hockey Europe 2024
On September 25, 2024, this year's Hockey Europe General Assembly took place in the context of the IIHF Semiannual Congress in Rhodes.
All members were represented by Jenny Silfverstrand and Johan Hemlin (SHL), Gernot Tripcke (Penny DEL), Christian Feichtinger (Win2Day Ice Hockey League), Mikko Pulkkinen (Liiga), Martin Loukota (Tipsport Extraliga), Denis Vaucher (National League) as well as Jörgen Lindgren (CHL, connected online).
In his annual report Denis Vaucher was able to look back on a successful 2023/24 season in every respect. All leagues recorded excellent attendance figures. In summary, it can be said that European club ice hockey is booming. The good cooperation with the IIHF – among other in the European Professional Hockey Committee - has been strengthened and mutual understanding has increased. The already well-functioning collaboration with the E.H.C. Alliance is to be further expanded in the future. Talks are to be held with other independent professional leagues in Europe about a possible collaboration/admission within Hockey Europe. In addition, the existing network and know-how among the professional leagues is to be expanded and shared with all other interested leagues as required.
Denis Vaucher was re-elected president for a further season and stated: “It is a great honor for me to serve as president of Hockey Europe. Our goal, together with the European clubs and the IIHF, must be to continue to promote the growth of European ice hockey - whether at the professional level, in the development of young talent or in women's ice hockey.”