STOP PRESS: The 2025 series has been cancelled in Melbourne. Details to follow.
CANBERRA. — Australia is poised to lose rights to host the men’s world ice hockey championships (Div IIA) in less than four months’ time over security concerns associated with the Israeli team’s participation and fears of violence following the recent arson attack at a Melbourne synagogue.
The 6 December firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea rang alarm bells as far away as Zurich (International Ice Hockey Federation [IIHF] headquarters), on the back of other anti-Israeli threats, acts of vandalism and weekly activism since the 7 October 2023 Hamas invasion and consequent Israeli Defence Force responses.
“Extensive security planning has been underway for at least six months,” according to a member of the Australian team’s coaching staff, “involving federal, state, and local Australian authorities.
“A relocation of the series (slated for 27 April-3 May) would be a huge disappointment for everyone associated with the team,” he said. “Everyone – and I mean everyone – is so psyched for a home championship.”
Word leaked out about the International Ice Hockey Federation’s consideration to move the event to another country (Netherlands, Belgium, Serbia, Israel and the United Arab Emirates national teams are tournament participants) when one of the European national teams flagged to organisers it was withholding its team’s flight bookings because Melbourne’s security arrangements were in question.
“Why are the World Championships for the upcoming year in Melbourne on hold,” asked a European national team coach in a recent exchange with contacts down under. “What’s going on?
“We want to lock in our travel but now we can’t book anything yet. I am just trying to find out what the chances are that the series will be held in another country.
“Do you know?” he asked.
That exchange prompted the Israeli national men’s ice hockey team’s last general manager – Felix Kozak – to confirm his was another participating team which had yet to lock in its flights.
“I was GM of Israel’s team at the last couple of tournaments,” he said. “The Israelis know nothing about a new location yet, but they also haven’t bought their plane tickets either.
“That would be sad news if the tournament was moved,” he said.
Responding to security concerns for the Israeli national team’s safety while in Melbourne, Kozak said he believed the costs were sometimes exaggerated.
“Australia is a safe country,” he said. “And there was zero security in Croatia when we last competed in an IIHF world championship there, and minimal security in Serbia (Belgrade) last year.
“We had one Serbian guard with a gun, and I am sure it cost less than $2000,” Kozak added.
While the IIHF headquarters have shut down over Christmas/New Year, and their main priority is currently the World Junior Championships in Ottawa, they have been asked for comment. Questions have also been put to Ice Hockey Australia.
A longtime Australian ice hockey administrator said providing security at any event involving national representatives in a global contest is always an expensive commitment.
“But I am not convinced the Aussie federation quite appreciates this — or is prepared to pony up the costs associated with ‘extra’ security measures,” he said.
The latest Middle East war has been underway for almost 15 months since the Hamas attacks (while consequent military reprisals and incursions into Gaza have now extended into Lebanon and Syria). Ice Hockey Australia (IHA) announced its successful bid to host the 2025 world championships in May 2024 – seven months after the latest major outbreak of war.
“It’s not as if they didn’t know Israel’s presence in the tournament would attract a higher level of security scrutiny and concern,” said the administrator. “IHA either don’t have the money to run the event with the requisite security, or they’re struggling for volunteers, or both.”
While there are some in the Australian ice hockey community who are unconcerned about the overseas teams’ reluctance to commit their travel to Australia in case the event is moved elsewhere, a former Australian team boss says that with less than four months to puck drop his teams’ flights “had already been confirmed and paid for in full”.
“Other countries may well be different with various funding models,” he added.
One national ice hockey federation which would jump at the opportunity to host the event in place of Melbourne is United Arab Emirates which plays its league competitions in Dubai (Mall Ice Rink, Al Ain) and Abu Dhabi. Vladimir Burdun founded the Dubai Mighty Camels and now as founder of Emirates Sports Group and the Camels’ chairman, he is developing the Emirates Sports Hotel and Apartments, a premier sports-centric destination, set to include a new ice sports facility.
“Hockey in the Middle East is more than just a sport — it’s a symbol of transformation,” Burdun told the newspaper Gulf Today in November. UAE’s best international result was a third-place finish in 2023.
A quick glance at the IHA home page tells the story of uncertainty today: promotional links for every world championship event in which Australian teams are competing in 2025, but nothing about the main event in April 2025 that Australia is hosting.
Or is it?
UPDATE 30 December 2024
Subject: STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL – Update on Hosting World Men’s Championship in Melbourne
From: Ryan O’Handley, Ice Hockey Australia
Earlier today, correspondence was sent to the IIHF Council stating that we will be unable to host the 2025 WM Div II World Championships due to safety and security concerns associated with Israel as a participant. As you are all well aware, anti-Israel protests and activities have escalated significantly since we were awarded with the Championship and there are now significant concerns regarding safety and security of the event. In mid-October, Victoria Police advised us that there was a high chance of an incident occurring during the Championship due to the escalating anti-Israel sentiment in Melbourne. By the end of October, the venue and the District Docklands precinct also expressed their concerns to us regarding the safety and security of the event. This prompted us to begin correspondence with the IIHF regarding these concerns and the escalating anti-Israel activities in Melbourne. Then, as you are all likely aware, there was an arson attack on a Synagogue in Melbourne on December 6th. Subsequent discussions with the venue and precinct occurred, along with a thorough risk assessment and consideration of all of our options. It was concluded just prior to Christmas that we could not host due to significant safety and security risks associated with Israel’s participation. I want to emphasize that this decision is not politically motivated. We have a good relationship with the Israel Ice Hockey Federation and have participated with them in many IIHF divisions without any issues. Our decision is based entirely on the fact that the safety and security of participants, the venue and precinct staff, and the general public cannot be assured to a reasonable level due to the current environment in Melbourne. The IIHF Council will meet December 29th and determine how to proceed. In my discussions with them so far, they have been very appreciative that we have brought the issues to them promptly and very supportive of the situation. It is my understanding that they will offer the hosting rights to another country in our division in the first instance and they have not suggested we will be sanctioned in any way. Our organizing committee has been working extremely hard and we were all excited to be hosting for the first time since 2011. However, the safety and security of our athletes, volunteers and hosting partners is our primary concern. As always, feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions or concerns.
Sandi Logan 