As expected, Heikki Hietanen was elected president of the Finnish Ice Hockey Federation. The new board will take office at the beginning of next year.
Pertti Lappalainen,
Sari Sirkki
The Federation Council of the Finnish Ice Hockey Federation voted for the new president of the federation Heikki Hietanen a moment ago at the annual meeting of the federal council. Hietanen follows in the task Harri Nummelaa. Nummela served as chairman from 2016.
Hietanen competed in the presidential election Erkka Westerlundia against when the third candidate Jukka Toivakka withdrew from the race earlier this week. All 32 voting members of the federal council were present to vote at the meeting.
The votes were clearly divided 26–6 in favor of Hietanen. When he starts as chairman of the federal government, Hietanen gives up his position as vice chairman of the federal council.
Hietanen is a meritorious leader in ice hockey. Among other things, he has been a member of the board of the International Ice Hockey Federation for three years and the chairman of the marketing committee of the IIHF. At the beginning of the 2000s, he was the CEO of the ice hockey association for nine years.
In addition, the merit list includes, among other things, 13 years as a member of the league board and five years as CEO of the league club HPK. He has been a member of the organizing committee of five World Championships held in Finland and the general secretary of two home championships.
He has never served as president of the Ice Hockey Association before.
Chairman of the Federal Council Pasi Kainulainen told before the annual meeting that hockey as a sport needs reform.
– The pressure that comes from the field will definitely drive to reform. Experienced puck men, they certainly know how to take control of the situation and be involved in reforming the sport, Kainulainen evaluates the two candidates before the vote.
The new board of the Ice Hockey Association will take office on January 1, 2024.