Former IIHF General Secretary at his office in 2005.
photo: Jukka Rautio / Europhoto
The international ice hockey family mourns the death of long-time IIHF General Secretary Jan-Ake Edvinsson, who passed away after long illness on Tuesday in Stockholm. He was 81 years old.
During his 20-year span as IIHF General Secretary from 1986 to 2006, Edvinsson did not only oversee the day-to-day operations of the International Ice Hockey Federation but was the architect of the organization as we know it today.
“It is with immense sadness and regret that we have learned of the passing of Jan-Ake Edvinsson, a true hockey executive, a valuable and impressive representative of the Swedish Ice Hockey Association and the IIHF. With the passing, we lose a wonderful member of the whole ice hockey family. He granted our deepest respect in always being professional, positive, motivated, and caring for the IIHF family. All of us are deeply saddened by this tragedy and our thoughts are with his family and friends,” said IIHF President Luc Tardif.
When the Swede started in this position, the IIHF Office consisted of two employees including himself overseeing an IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship program with six tournaments, a budget of 3.5 million Swiss Francs and 34 member national associations. During his 20 years, he turned a small organization in an unprecedented manner into a modern international sport federation that expanded to more countries around the globe. Upon his retirement in 2006, the IIHF had grown to 64 member national associations, 29 championships and 25 staff members.
Born on 13 September 1941 in Trolle Ljungby, Sweden, Edvinsson’s career as a hockey administrator started in 1972 as Finance Manager of the Swedish Ice Hockey Association. In 1976, he became the organization’s General Secretary and ten years later started as IIHF General Secretary at the office in Vienna, Austria before the move to Zurich, Switzerland in 1991. The IIHF grew that strongly and fast, that it moved to new headquarters within Zurich in 2002 at its current location.
Edvinsson held the position for a longer period of time than anybody else and worked under two IIHF Presidents, Gunther Sabetzki and Rene Fasel.
He was not only known for his management skills and fiscal responsibility but as a great human being who brought people together and communicated in the intercultural environment in a harmonious manner.
After the well-deserved retirement in 2006, Edvinsson continued to reside in the Zurich area with his wife for many years before returning to Sweden. He was not only an always welcome guest at the IIHF Office, championships and congresses after that time but remained active as a technical delegate at Olympic Winter Games following his retirement.-Additionally, until a few years ago he continued to serve as directorate chairperson at IIHF tournaments.
Edvinsson was inducted as a builder into the IIHF Hall of Fame at the induction ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden in 2013 and will be dearly missed.
During his 20-year span as IIHF General Secretary from 1986 to 2006, Edvinsson did not only oversee the day-to-day operations of the International Ice Hockey Federation but was the architect of the organization as we know it today.
“It is with immense sadness and regret that we have learned of the passing of Jan-Ake Edvinsson, a true hockey executive, a valuable and impressive representative of the Swedish Ice Hockey Association and the IIHF. With the passing, we lose a wonderful member of the whole ice hockey family. He granted our deepest respect in always being professional, positive, motivated, and caring for the IIHF family. All of us are deeply saddened by this tragedy and our thoughts are with his family and friends,” said IIHF President Luc Tardif.
When the Swede started in this position, the IIHF Office consisted of two employees including himself overseeing an IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship program with six tournaments, a budget of 3.5 million Swiss Francs and 34 member national associations. During his 20 years, he turned a small organization in an unprecedented manner into a modern international sport federation that expanded to more countries around the globe. Upon his retirement in 2006, the IIHF had grown to 64 member national associations, 29 championships and 25 staff members.
Born on 13 September 1941 in Trolle Ljungby, Sweden, Edvinsson’s career as a hockey administrator started in 1972 as Finance Manager of the Swedish Ice Hockey Association. In 1976, he became the organization’s General Secretary and ten years later started as IIHF General Secretary at the office in Vienna, Austria before the move to Zurich, Switzerland in 1991. The IIHF grew that strongly and fast, that it moved to new headquarters within Zurich in 2002 at its current location.
Edvinsson held the position for a longer period of time than anybody else and worked under two IIHF Presidents, Gunther Sabetzki and Rene Fasel.
He was not only known for his management skills and fiscal responsibility but as a great human being who brought people together and communicated in the intercultural environment in a harmonious manner.
After the well-deserved retirement in 2006, Edvinsson continued to reside in the Zurich area with his wife for many years before returning to Sweden. He was not only an always welcome guest at the IIHF Office, championships and congresses after that time but remained active as a technical delegate at Olympic Winter Games following his retirement.-Additionally, until a few years ago he continued to serve as directorate chairperson at IIHF tournaments.
Edvinsson was inducted as a builder into the IIHF Hall of Fame at the induction ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden in 2013 and will be dearly missed.