Country-wide Development
Estonia has launched a nationwide Goalie Coaching Development Program in cooperation with the IIHF funding to address the long-standing lack of structured goalie training in the country. The initiative aims to build a sustainable foundation by educating coaches, identifying local talents, and establishing dedicated goalie coaching roles within every major club. The program combines centralized clinics with on-site club visits to assess needs, mentor coaches, and create long-term development plans.The presentation will be given by Balint Fekti, Sports Director of the Estonian Ice Hockey Association (Eesti Hoki), who will share the story behind the project, the challenges faced, and the steps being taken to build a stronger future for goaltending in Estonian hockey.
In addition, we are pleased to share highlights from the IIHF Global Hockey Forum, held in Nice as part of our IIHF’s ICE26 strategy. The Forum united national associations, partners, and the IIHF family to exchange ideas on the sustainable growth of hockey worldwide. Discussions focused on three key areas – Development, Marketing, and Women’s Hockey – led by experts and leading figures in the sport. At the S4A webinar, we aim to provide insights into these discussions and inspire future actions across the global hockey community.