The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has officially appointed Mr. Wanchana Kasemsant Na Ayudhya, Vice President of the Ice Hockey Association of Thailand, as the IIHF Sport Development Manager for Asia and Oceania. He will be based in Thailand and will oversee the development of ice hockey across the region — including youth development for both men and women, as well as personnel development activities for referees, coaches, and association administrators in all countries throughout Asia and Oceania. Additionally, Thailand has been selected to host the 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship Division III.
This appointment was made during the IIHF Annual Congress held in Sweden, attended by M.L. Kritsada Kasemsunt, President of the Ice Hockey Association of Thailand, together with Mr. Wanchana Kasemsant Na Ayudhya in his role as the regional development representative, along with delegates from more than 75 member nations.
During the Congress, discussions and summaries of the annual performance report were presented. The meeting also announced host nations for all levels of the upcoming IIHF World Championship tournaments and provided updates regarding the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. Further, updates on rule changes and future regulations were reviewed. The Congress unanimously approved the appointment of Mr. Wanchana Kasemsant Na Ayudhya as the IIHF Sport Development Manager for Asia and Oceania. Based in Thailand, he will be responsible for overseeing youth development initiatives for both men’s and women’s ice hockey across the entire region.
