photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation
Former Austrian federation President passed away at 95
Austrian hockey player, executive, IIHF Hall of Famer, IIHF Life Member Hans Dobida has passed away at the age of 95.
When Hans Dobida was a young man in Graz, Austria, he played both team handball and hockey.
“At that time, it was easily possible. We played on natural ice and the ice hockey season was shorter,” he told IIHF.com in 2019 on his 90th birthday.
Even though he was a national team player in handball, it was hockey that stole his heart, and it was in hockey that he made his life’s work. And the game of hockey is better for it.
After his own career came to an end after five seasons, Dr. Dobida stayed with his local Graz team, and became the head of the club’s hockey section. In the early 1960s, he was name vice president of the Austrian hockey federation, a position he held for fifteen years.
During that time, he was also on the organizing committees of the IIHF World Championships in 1967, 1977, 1987, and 1996, all held in Vienna, as well as the 1973 Group B World Championships that were held in Dr. Dobida’s hometown Graz. He was also on the organizing committees of all the international tournaments held in Austria until the late 1990.
In the 1973 tournament, the Austrian team, coached by Father David Bauer finished fifth in the tournament, but to Dr. Dobida’s delight, the home team sold out all their games, with thousands outside the arena in an important game against Switzerland.
Dr. Dobida was also on the organizing committee of the 1964 and 1976 Olympic Games, both held in Innsbruck, Austria, and he was the head of the Austrian Olympic hockey team in 1964, 1976, 1984, 1988 and 1994.
In 1977, he became the President of the Austrian Ice Hockey Association, and while also head of Graz’s hockey team, he got to celebrate two Austrian championships, in 1975 and 1978.
He was elected to the IIHF Council in 1986, and became the IIHF Treasurer and later Auditor, as well as a member of the Executive Committee. All in all, Dr. Dobida served as chairman of approximately 50 tournaments, including the IIHF Continental Cup until 2018.
"Hans Dobida was for many years one of the pillars of the Austrian Ice Hockey Association, a wise treasurer of the IIHF, but also a much sought-after advisor to many of us. With the Continental Cup Final currently underway in Cardiff, we are reminded of his unwavering commitment to this competition. The IIHF and myself will miss him dearly," shared IIHF President, Luc Tardif.
He was inducted into the German Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004, and into the Slovenian Hockey Hall of Fame in its inaugural class in 2007.
That same year, Dr. Dobida was also inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame as Builder. For his over five decades long services to international hockey, Dr. Dobida was also named IIHF Life Member in 2018.
“With Hans Dobida, Austrian ice hockey and Austrian sport lose a man who always carried out all his official activities with dedication and joy. Countless merits around our sport, as well as our reputation on an international level, are closely linked to his name. Our condolences go out to his family, friends and companions. Rest in peace," Austrian Ice Hockey Association President Klaus Hartmann said in a statement.
Austrian hockey player, executive, IIHF Hall of Famer, IIHF Life Member Hans Dobida has passed away at the age of 95.
When Hans Dobida was a young man in Graz, Austria, he played both team handball and hockey.
“At that time, it was easily possible. We played on natural ice and the ice hockey season was shorter,” he told IIHF.com in 2019 on his 90th birthday.
Even though he was a national team player in handball, it was hockey that stole his heart, and it was in hockey that he made his life’s work. And the game of hockey is better for it.
After his own career came to an end after five seasons, Dr. Dobida stayed with his local Graz team, and became the head of the club’s hockey section. In the early 1960s, he was name vice president of the Austrian hockey federation, a position he held for fifteen years.
During that time, he was also on the organizing committees of the IIHF World Championships in 1967, 1977, 1987, and 1996, all held in Vienna, as well as the 1973 Group B World Championships that were held in Dr. Dobida’s hometown Graz. He was also on the organizing committees of all the international tournaments held in Austria until the late 1990.
In the 1973 tournament, the Austrian team, coached by Father David Bauer finished fifth in the tournament, but to Dr. Dobida’s delight, the home team sold out all their games, with thousands outside the arena in an important game against Switzerland.
Dr. Dobida was also on the organizing committee of the 1964 and 1976 Olympic Games, both held in Innsbruck, Austria, and he was the head of the Austrian Olympic hockey team in 1964, 1976, 1984, 1988 and 1994.
In 1977, he became the President of the Austrian Ice Hockey Association, and while also head of Graz’s hockey team, he got to celebrate two Austrian championships, in 1975 and 1978.
He was elected to the IIHF Council in 1986, and became the IIHF Treasurer and later Auditor, as well as a member of the Executive Committee. All in all, Dr. Dobida served as chairman of approximately 50 tournaments, including the IIHF Continental Cup until 2018.
"Hans Dobida was for many years one of the pillars of the Austrian Ice Hockey Association, a wise treasurer of the IIHF, but also a much sought-after advisor to many of us. With the Continental Cup Final currently underway in Cardiff, we are reminded of his unwavering commitment to this competition. The IIHF and myself will miss him dearly," shared IIHF President, Luc Tardif.
He was inducted into the German Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004, and into the Slovenian Hockey Hall of Fame in its inaugural class in 2007.
That same year, Dr. Dobida was also inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame as Builder. For his over five decades long services to international hockey, Dr. Dobida was also named IIHF Life Member in 2018.
“With Hans Dobida, Austrian ice hockey and Austrian sport lose a man who always carried out all his official activities with dedication and joy. Countless merits around our sport, as well as our reputation on an international level, are closely linked to his name. Our condolences go out to his family, friends and companions. Rest in peace," Austrian Ice Hockey Association President Klaus Hartmann said in a statement.