Swiss court sides with IIHF over Hockey Canada, USA Hockey on jerseys
The nine-month fight started when Hockey Canada handed Bauer an eight-year replica deal without a bidding process.
A Swiss court has ruled that the IIHF owns the rights to the jerseys worn at its events, per The Hockey News. The ruling ends a nine-month fight with Hockey Canada and USA Hockey.
It started Dec. 30, 2025, when Hockey Canada gave Bauer an eight-year extension as its replica-jersey maker with no bidding process, per the report. That ran into IIHF rules that give the federation the final say on jersey designs and commercial rights at its tournaments.
The federations still own their logos and crests. But nothing gets worn at a sanctioned event without IIHF sign-off. IIHF president Luc Tardif, per The Hockey News: "This is the first time in IIHF history that two members have broken the solidarity needed for the development of international hockey."
Ferda read: this is a fight over who gets to sell the sweater, not who gets to wear it. The fans lose either way, because the replica in the gift shop just got more complicated.
The two biggest federations in the sport picked a public fight with the body that runs the worlds, and lost. The players will keep playing. The lawyers will keep billing.