Ice Hockey UK chairman Rich Grieveson has given his support to the joint-project to create a new unified UK organisation for ice hockey.
Yesterday, IHUK and the EIHA issued a statement confirming the plans and the timeline moving forward.
Grieveson said: “I want to go on record to commend the work of Jonathan Hall and the EIHA Governance Review Group in driving this agenda.
“When I commenced in the role as chairman of IHUK two years ago, I was very honest in stating my belief that the current model for the strategic management of ice hockey within the UK was overly complex and dysfunctional.
“I sought guidance and opinion from the IIHF, who agreed that positive change was necessary if we were to achieve our potential within the sport as a nation.
“I attended the EIHA and SIH AGMs in 2016 and stated that it was my belief that a single, new and different national governing body (NGB) for our sport in the UK was the only way to move forward if we are to address our weaknesses and build on the examples of good practice within current member organisations.
“We have achieved significant success over recent months. We have successfully hosted a number of World Championship tournaments including, of course, the first men’s World Championship to be held in the UK for over 25 years.
“We have achieved success on the ice at a range of levels and GB Men currently compete as a Pool A nation. As a NGB we have driven an agenda for change, which identified and addressed operational areas for improvement including finance and governance.
“In short, I believe that our international credibility is now as positive as it has ever been. So, although frustratingly, progress has been laboured in regard to changing the overall structure of the sport, I do believe we are now better placed than ever to make the change required.
“I am delighted therefore that the review group has independently reached the same conclusions. The IHUK board were unanimous in supporting the direction of travel and will fully engage with the process as proposed.