What happened: Delegates are scheduled to vote Thursday in Tenerife, Spain, with Germany's Franz Reindl and Czechia's Petr Briza positioned as the leading candidates. The winner would replace Luc Tardif as IIHF president.

Why it matters: The presidency carries weight beyond the federation's internal politics because the office helps steer the IIHF's relationships with major hockey stakeholders. That puts the vote on the radar of the NHL, NHLPA, USA Hockey and Hockey Canada.

What to watch: Watch whether the race remains a two-candidate contest when voting begins. The result will set the IIHF's next leadership direction immediately after the election.