Anatolii BREZVIN (UKR)

Paul Loicq Award

Born Holoby, Ukraine, January 8, 1956

President of the Ukrainian Ice Hockey Federation from 2006 to 2020, Anatolii Brezvin almost single-handedly created a hockey program and environment that would be the envy of any country. His ambition was enormous, and his ability to meet his lofty goals changed the culture of the sport in his country.

Thanks to his determination, Brezvin created a strategy to build 60 new arenas across each region of Ukraine to ensure the game could grow and thrive everywhere. Some eleven of those facilities were modern, indoor rinks in the Kiev and Donetsk regions, while nine others were built through the private sector. Commensurate with these efforts, Ukraine hosted several important IIHF events, notably the 2011 and 2013 Men’s World Championship, Division I-A and I-B, respectively, as well as several junior level events.

But Brezvin well knew the growth of the game depended on the lower levels and grassroots programs. To that end, he established the Cup of Ukraine tournament as well as a national youth championship, both of which helped to establish and build a foundation for the next generation of talent.

Going further, Brezvin entered Ukraine into the IIHF’s Women’s World Championship program while simultaneously creating a Ukrainian women’s championship. After relinquishing his presidency in 2020, Brezvin became an Honourary President and continued his work in the game, playing a critical role in ensuring the safety of more than 2,500 players in 2022 during the darkest hours of the Russian invasion.