IIHF president Luc Tardif met the press this afternoon in Ottawa.
In his traditional pre-medal press conference, IIHF president Luc Tardif met the press. Alongside him were tournament Chairs Petr Briza and Heikki Hietanen and Dean MacIntosh, a vice-president at Hockey Canada.
“There is no doubt that Ottawa is a hockey city,” Tardif began. “Yesterday, without Team Canada, we had 14,000 or 15,000 fans for the games, and today we will be almost sold out. That’s fantastic. The passion for the juniors here in Canada, and especially Ottawa, is fantastic. But we’re not surprised. We work with Dean and his group every two years, and now with the announcement yesterday that we will be coming to Canada even more, for women’s events, we’re very happy to be working even more with Hockey Canada.”
Tardif further announced the creation of a formal trophy for the World Junior Championship MVP (previously there was an announcement but no trophy) and that it would be named after the late Murray Costello. Costello passed away in Ottawa at age 90 last July 27.
“The most valuable player award at the World Junior Championship will now be named after Murray Costello,” Tardif explained. “He was the president of the CAHA, hockey Canada, a member of the IIHF Council for more than two decades, including five years as a vice-president. Murray was instrumental in the creation of Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence and was an advocate for women’s hockey. He was the one who pushed hardest for the IIHF to hold the first Women’s World Championship in 1990, right here in Ottawa. Murray was also a member of the Order of Hockey in Canada, and a member of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, the Hockey Hall of Fame, and the IIHF Hall of Fame. His legacy will impact hockey internationally for generations. The IIHF family is happy and proud of this naming, and what better place to honour Murray than Ottawa?”
On hand for the announcement were Costello’s children Michelle, Dan, Jennifer, Jim, Mary, and Elizabeth.
“There is no doubt that Ottawa is a hockey city,” Tardif began. “Yesterday, without Team Canada, we had 14,000 or 15,000 fans for the games, and today we will be almost sold out. That’s fantastic. The passion for the juniors here in Canada, and especially Ottawa, is fantastic. But we’re not surprised. We work with Dean and his group every two years, and now with the announcement yesterday that we will be coming to Canada even more, for women’s events, we’re very happy to be working even more with Hockey Canada.”
Tardif further announced the creation of a formal trophy for the World Junior Championship MVP (previously there was an announcement but no trophy) and that it would be named after the late Murray Costello. Costello passed away in Ottawa at age 90 last July 27.
“The most valuable player award at the World Junior Championship will now be named after Murray Costello,” Tardif explained. “He was the president of the CAHA, hockey Canada, a member of the IIHF Council for more than two decades, including five years as a vice-president. Murray was instrumental in the creation of Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence and was an advocate for women’s hockey. He was the one who pushed hardest for the IIHF to hold the first Women’s World Championship in 1990, right here in Ottawa. Murray was also a member of the Order of Hockey in Canada, and a member of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, the Hockey Hall of Fame, and the IIHF Hall of Fame. His legacy will impact hockey internationally for generations. The IIHF family is happy and proud of this naming, and what better place to honour Murray than Ottawa?”
On hand for the announcement were Costello’s children Michelle, Dan, Jennifer, Jim, Mary, and Elizabeth.
Five of Murray Costello’s six children were on hand to unveil the new World Junior MVP Award named in Costello’s honour.
“We are grateful to the IIHF for renaming the World Juniors MVP award in Murray’s honour and extending the connection between him and this tournament that meant so much to him,” said Katherine Henderson, president and chief executive officer of Hockey Canada. “Hockey continues to benefit from Murray’s tremendous contributions to the game, and we cannot think of a more deserving tribute to one of our sport’s greatest leaders.”
MacIntosh spoke of the honour and responsibility associated with hosting IIHF events: “We support the values of the IIHF—fair play, integrity—and we see this as the responsibility of Hockey Canada, as an extension of what the IIHF does. We’re incredibly proud through men’s and women’s games to host tournaments on behalf of the IIHF, and we’re excited in the coming years to be hosting multiple events.
Tardif was asked about if and when Russia and Belarus will return to IIHF competition, namely the Milano Olympics in 13 months. “For us, we still want them back as soon as possible because if they are back, it will mean the war will be over,” he explained. “But we won’t risk any competition or the players. That’s the most important for us. We have to see what happens in the next two months. We will wait as long as possible, but we must make a decision in February to give organizers the chance to make the game schedule, know who is coming to the Olympics, the promotion, and do all the planning. And the IOC will also have to make decisions. We will analyse everything next month, but the main issue is the security of the players. We won’t take any risks.”
As for the 4 Nations Faceoff next month, Tardif sees this as an NHL stand-alone tournament, but hopes there is more international competition in the future with NHL players.
“Anything that’s international competition is IIHF,” he explained. “We re-opened discussions with the NHL and had success in bringing the players back to the Olympics. It took a year and a half, but it’s done. We’ve started discussions about a World Cup, but the NHL wanted it in Europe. But such an event in Europe just a few months before the World Championship is difficult. And we haven’t come to North America for the World Championship either. The will to organize a competition is still there, but we want an equal partnership. There is still a lot to discuss.”
The Organizing Committee for the 2026 World Juniors in Minnesota then took the stage, led by the legend Lou Nanne. Inducted into the IIHF hall of Fame in 2004, he played the entire 12-year, 635-game career with the old Minnesota North Stars. Looking and sounding fit, the 83-year-old was the TV colour commentator for the Minnesota State High School Boys Hockey tournament for 60 years, 1964-2024.
“We’re going to put on a show like you’ve never seen. We know how to celebrate winter. You’re all in for a real treat. We look forward to seeing you,” Nanne enthused.
MacIntosh spoke of the honour and responsibility associated with hosting IIHF events: “We support the values of the IIHF—fair play, integrity—and we see this as the responsibility of Hockey Canada, as an extension of what the IIHF does. We’re incredibly proud through men’s and women’s games to host tournaments on behalf of the IIHF, and we’re excited in the coming years to be hosting multiple events.
Tardif was asked about if and when Russia and Belarus will return to IIHF competition, namely the Milano Olympics in 13 months. “For us, we still want them back as soon as possible because if they are back, it will mean the war will be over,” he explained. “But we won’t risk any competition or the players. That’s the most important for us. We have to see what happens in the next two months. We will wait as long as possible, but we must make a decision in February to give organizers the chance to make the game schedule, know who is coming to the Olympics, the promotion, and do all the planning. And the IOC will also have to make decisions. We will analyse everything next month, but the main issue is the security of the players. We won’t take any risks.”
As for the 4 Nations Faceoff next month, Tardif sees this as an NHL stand-alone tournament, but hopes there is more international competition in the future with NHL players.
“Anything that’s international competition is IIHF,” he explained. “We re-opened discussions with the NHL and had success in bringing the players back to the Olympics. It took a year and a half, but it’s done. We’ve started discussions about a World Cup, but the NHL wanted it in Europe. But such an event in Europe just a few months before the World Championship is difficult. And we haven’t come to North America for the World Championship either. The will to organize a competition is still there, but we want an equal partnership. There is still a lot to discuss.”
The Organizing Committee for the 2026 World Juniors in Minnesota then took the stage, led by the legend Lou Nanne. Inducted into the IIHF hall of Fame in 2004, he played the entire 12-year, 635-game career with the old Minnesota North Stars. Looking and sounding fit, the 83-year-old was the TV colour commentator for the Minnesota State High School Boys Hockey tournament for 60 years, 1964-2024.
“We’re going to put on a show like you’ve never seen. We know how to celebrate winter. You’re all in for a real treat. We look forward to seeing you,” Nanne enthused.