International Ice Hockey Federation

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) is a worldwide organisation for ice hockey and in-line hockey. It's based in Zurich, Switzerland, and has seventy-six members. It manages international ice hockey tournaments and maintains the IIHF World Ranking.

Although the IIHF governs international competitions, the IIHF has no authority and remarkably very little influence on hockey in North America, where the foundations of contemporary hockey were developed and where the National Hockey League (NHL) is the most influential hockey organisation. Hockey Canada and USA Hockey federations have their own rulebooks, whereas non-North American alliances typically follow the IIHF rules.

Decisions of the IIHF may be appealed through the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, European nation.

The IIHF museum was set inside the International Hockey Hall of Fame museum set in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, from 1992 to 1997. Once terminating the partnership with the International Hockey Hall of Fame, the IIHF signed an agreement with the NHL to accommodate their museum inside the Hockey Hall of Fame. In 1998, the IIHF museum resettled to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, occupying over 3,500 sq. Feet inside the Hockey Hall of Fame.