Paul Loicq
Encyclopedia
Paul Loicq was an ice hockey
player, referee
, and administrator.
He was born in Brussels
.
Loicq is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame
in the "Builder" category in 1961. Born in Brussels, Belgium, he studied law and served with the Belgian armed forces
in World War I
. As a hockey player, he skated with the Belgian national ice hockey team
from 1919 to 1926, and represented his native at the 1920 Summer Olympics ice hockey tournament
.
After retiring, Loicq turned to working as a referee and administrator. He served as president
of organizations such as the Skaters Club of Brussels, the Belgian Federation of Skaters and the Belgian League for Winter Sports, finally becoming the president of the International Ice Hockey Federation
(IIHF) in 1927. He served in that position for twenty years, while also refereeing 65 official matches for the Olympic Games
and the European and World championships
. During this time, he also founded the International College of Referees.
Loicq is credited with helping to increase the popularity of ice hockey in Europe
, and with promoting ice hockey as one of the premier events at the Winter Olympic Games
.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player, referee
Official (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, an official is a person who has some responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game. There are two categories of officials, on-ice officials, who are the referees and linesmen that enforce the rules during game play, and off-ice officials, who have an...
, and administrator.
He was born in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
.
Loicq is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
in the "Builder" category in 1961. Born in Brussels, Belgium, he studied law and served with the Belgian armed forces
Military of Belgium
The Belgian Army is the national military of Belgium. The Belgian Army was established after Belgium became independent in October 1830...
in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. As a hockey player, he skated with the Belgian national ice hockey team
Belgian national ice hockey team
The Belgian men's national ice hockey team has participated in the IIHF European Championships from 1910 to 1932. They have won 2 bronze medals , 1 silver medal , and 1 gold medal .-2009 World Championship Div II roster :...
from 1919 to 1926, and represented his native at the 1920 Summer Olympics ice hockey tournament
Ice hockey at the 1920 Summer Olympics
Ice hockey was introduced to the Olympic Games at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp. The matches were played between April 23 and April 29, 1920. All matches took place in the Palais de Glace d'Anvers . The rink measured 56 to 18 meters . All games were played with seven players on each side,...
.
After retiring, Loicq turned to working as a referee and administrator. He served as president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of organizations such as the Skaters Club of Brussels, the Belgian Federation of Skaters and the Belgian League for Winter Sports, finally becoming the president of the International Ice Hockey Federation
International Ice Hockey Federation
The International Ice Hockey Federation is the worldwide governing body for ice hockey and in-line hockey. It is based in Zurich, Switzerland, and has 70 members...
(IIHF) in 1927. He served in that position for twenty years, while also refereeing 65 official matches for the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
and the European and World championships
Ice Hockey World Championships
The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
. During this time, he also founded the International College of Referees.
Loicq is credited with helping to increase the popularity of ice hockey in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, and with promoting ice hockey as one of the premier events at the Winter Olympic Games
Winter Olympic Games
The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating...
.