Markus Graf
{{Short description|Swiss ice hockey player, coach, and executive (born 1959)}}
{{distinguish|text=Marcus Graf, a German art curator}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Markus Graf
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1959|7|24|df=y}}
| birth_place = Biel, Switzerland
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = Ice hockey executive and coach
| known_for = {{hlist|Swiss Ice Hockey Federation|International Ice Hockey Federation}}
| awards = Johan Bollue Award (2024)
| module = {{Infobox ice hockey biography | embed=yes
| height_cm = 178
| weight_kg = 78
| position = Forward
| shoots = Left
| played_for = SC Langnau
HC Lugano
EHC Olten
| coached_for = EHC Olten
EHC Biel
| career_start = 1975
| career_end = 2016
| career_start_coach = 1992
| career_end_coach = 2002
}}
}}
Markus Rudolf Graf (born 24 July 1959) is a Swiss former ice hockey player, coach, and executive. Prior to a professional career in Switzerland, he represented his country internationally on the under-18 team and the men's junior team. In six seasons for SC Langnau in the Nationalliga A, he won a silver medal and was voted an all-time legend by the team's fans. He won the Nationalliga A championship twice with HC Lugano, then played for EHC Olten before transitioning into a player-coach in lower-level leagues.
Graf later coached EHC Olten and EHC Biel in the Nationalliga B, was an executive with the SCL Tigers, then served as the international youth hockey supervisor for the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation (SIHF) for 16 years, and was on the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) coaching and development committee. He created the guidelines for training junior hockey players, which then formed the approach to training the Switzerland men's national ice hockey team. Later in his career, he focused on the training of coaches, and was the interim chief executive officer of the SIHF until retirement in 2024. He received the Johan Bollue Award from the IIHF, for international programs to develop youth players.
Early life and junior hockey
Markus Rudolf Graf was born on 24 July 1959, in Biel, Switzerland.{{efn|*Full name: Markus Rudolf Graf{{cite web|url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/40779/markus-graf|title=Markus Graf – Stats, Contract, Salary & More|website=Elite Prospects|access-date=23 November 2024}}
- Birth date: 24 July 1959{{cite web|url=https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2024/wm/static/60902/markus_graf_(sui)|title=Markus Graf (SUI)|date=25 May 2024|website=International Ice Hockey Federation|access-date=19 November 2024}}
- Birth place: Biel, Switzerland}} Growing up playing ice hockey in Switzerland, he was left-shooting forward listed at {{convert|178|cm|ftin}}, and {{convert|78|kg}}.{{efn|Playing position as a forward{{cite web|url=https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=51913|title=Markus Graf Hockey Stats and Profile|website=HockeyDB|access-date=22 November 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.quanthockey.com/hockey-stats/en/profile.php?player=23407|title=Markus Graf|website=Quant Hockey|date=|access-date=23 November 2024}}
- Lefthanded shooter
- Height 5ft 10in, Weight 172lbs [178 cm/78 kg].}} He played internationally for the Switzerland under-18 team in 1976, and at the 1977 European Championship in Germany. He later played for the Switzerland men's national junior team at the 1978 World Junior Championships in Canada.
Professional hockey career
File:Ilfishalle Interior View.jpg, home rink of SC Langnau|alt=Interior view of an ice hockey arena]]
Turning professional, Graf played six seasons for SC Langnau in the Nationalliga A from 1977 to 1983. In his first season with Langnau, the team finished second in the league winning a silver medal, one point away from first place and the gold medal.{{cite web|url=https://www.hockeyarchives.info/Suisse1978.htm|title=Championnat de Suisse 1977/78|website=Hockey Archives|language=fr|access-date=7 January 2025}} Wearing uniform #15, fans voted him one of the team's 75 "all-time legends" during Langnau's 75th anniversary season in 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.scltigers.ch/all-time-legends/|title=All-Time-Legends: Das sind die All-time Legends SC Langnau & SCL Tigers|date=2022|website=SCL Tigers|location=Langnau im Emmental, Switzerland|language=de|access-date=24 November 2024}}
In 1983, Graf began two seasons playing with {{ill|EHC Thun-Steffisburg|de|EHC Thun}} in the Swiss 1st League. In his first season, EHC Thun-Steffisburg placed second in Group 3, but lost in the playoffs for promotion to Nationalliga B.{{cite web|url=https://www.hockeyarchives.info/Suisse1984.htm|title=Championnat de Suisse 1983/84|website=Hockey Archives|language=fr|access-date=7 January 2025}} In the 1984–85 season, he scored a career best 42 goals, 35 assists, and 77 points.
File:Cornèr Arena - Hockey Club Lugano.jpg, home rink of HC Lugano|alt=Interior view of an ice hockey arena]]
Returning to the Nationalliga A, Graf played the next two seasons with HC Lugano, winning the league championship twice.{{cite web|url=https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2024/wm/news/61385/iihf_honours_great_contributors|title=IIHF honours great contributors|last=Aykroyd|first=Lucas|date=25 May 2024|website=International Ice Hockey Federation|access-date=19 November 2024}}{{cite news|title=Prix IIHF–Un Suisse, Markus Graf, honoré par le Prix John Bollue|date=25 May 2024|work=Planète Hockey|language=fr|location=Fribourg, Switzerland|url=https://planetehockey.com/prix-iihf-un-suisse-markus-graf-honore-par-le-prix-john-bollue/|access-date=19 November 2024}}{{cite news|title=Markus Graf hinterlässt im Hockey tiefe Spuren|last=Perrenoud|first=Julian|date=30 September 2024|newspaper=Berner Zeitung|language=de|location=Bern, Switzerland|url=https://www.bernerzeitung.ch/emmentaler-eishockey-ausbildungschef-markus-graf-vor-pensionierung-689779264262|access-date=24 November 2024}} HC Lugano placed first during the 1985–86 season, and defeated HC Sierre and HC Davos to win the playoffs.{{cite web|url=https://www.hockeyarchives.info/Suisse1986.htm|title=Championnat de Suisse 1985/86|website=Hockey Archives|language=fr|access-date=7 January 2025}} HC Lugano finished in first place again during the 1986–87 season, then defeated HC Ambrì-Piotta and EHC Kloten for the playoffs championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.hockeyarchives.info/Suisse1987.htm|title=Championnat de Suisse 1986/87|website=Hockey Archives|language=fr|access-date=7 January 2025}}
Graf played for EHC Olten in the 1987–88 Nationalliga B season, where he scored 27 goals and 52 points in 36 games. He helped EHC Olten to a third-place finish in the regular season, and playoffs series wins versus SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers and HC Ajoie to earn promotion to Nationalliga A for the next season.{{cite web|url=https://www.hockeyarchives.info/Suisse1988.htm|title=Championnat de Suisse 1987/88|website=Hockey Archives|language=fr|access-date=2 March 2025}} He played the next four seasons in Nationalliga A, placing seventh in the 1988–89 season and fifth in the 1989–90 season, but saw first-round playoffs losses both seasons versus EHC Kloten.{{cite web|url=https://www.hockeyarchives.info/Suisse1989.htm|title=Championnat de Suisse 1988/89|website=Hockey Archives|language=fr|access-date=2 March 2025}}; {{cite web|url=https://www.hockeyarchives.info/Suisse1990.htm|title=Championnat de Suisse 1989/90|website=Hockey Archives|language=fr|access-date=2 March 2025}} In the 1990–91 season, EHC Olten finished in last place, but won the six-team relegation/promotion playoffs to remained in Nationalliga A.{{cite web|url=https://www.hockeyarchives.info/Suisse1991.htm|title=Championnat de Suisse 1990/91|website=Hockey Archives|language=fr|access-date=2 March 2025}} Placing ninth in the 1991–92 season, Graf was unable to help EHC Olten avoid relegation again when the team placed third in the six-team relegation/promotion playoffs.{{cite web|url=https://www.hockeyarchives.info/Suisse1992.htm|title=Championnat de Suisse 1991/92|website=Hockey Archives|language=fr|access-date=2 March 2025}} Competing in the 1992–93 Nationalliga B season, he helped EHC Olten place second of ten teams.{{cite web|url=https://www.hockeyarchives.info/Suisse1993.htm|title=Championnat de Suisse 1992/93|website=Hockey Archives|language=fr|access-date=2 March 2025}}
File:Kleinholz Aussenansicht.jpg, home rink of EHC Olten|alt=Interior view of an ice hockey arena]]
While playing for EHC Olten, Graf became head coach of EHC Rheinfelden in the Swiss 2nd League in 1992. He led them to 9 points in 18 games during the 1992–93 season, but a ninth-place finish of ten teams in the Central Division meant that the team was demoted to Swiss 3rd League. From 1993 to 1997, Graf was the player-coach of EHC Rheinfelden.
During the 1995–96 Nationalliga B season, Graf was named head coach of EHC Olten, replacing Fyodor Kanareykin in January 1996.{{cite web|url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/staff/11527/markus-graf|title=Markus Graf Team Staff Profile|website=Elite Prospects|access-date=23 November 2024}} Graf coached the final 12 games in the regular season, winning three games, with EHC Olten placing ninth in the league. The team finished two points below the eight place team, and did not qualify for the playoffs.{{cite web|url=https://www.hockeyarchives.info/Suisse1996.htm|title=Championnat de Suisse 1995/96|website=Hockey Archives|language=fr|access-date=4 March 2025}} He returned as head coach of EHC Olten for the 1997–98 season, and led them to 17 wins and 39 points in 40 games, and sixth-place standing in the league. His team lost in the first playoffs round three-games-to-one versus HC Thurgau.{{cite web|url=https://www.hockeyarchives.info/Suisse1998.htm|title=Championnat de Suisse 1997/98|website=Hockey Archives|language=fr|access-date=5 March 2025}} In the 1998–99 season, he coached EHC Olten to 21 wins and 44 points in 40 games, and a third-place finish. He led his team to a first-round playoffs victory in three consecutive games versus SC Säntis, then lost in the second round three-games-to-two versus HC La Chaux-de-Fonds.{{cite web|url=https://www.hockeyarchives.info/Suisse1999.htm|title=Championnat de Suisse 1997/98|website=Hockey Archives|language=fr|access-date=5 March 2025}}
File:Tissot Arena EHC Biel.jpg, home rink of EHC Biel|alt=Interior view of an ice hockey arena]]
Graf returned as a head coach in Nationalliga B, leading EHC Biel for the 2000–01 season. His team earned 26 wins and 57 points in 40 games, placing second in the league. He led EHC Biel to a three-games-to-one first-round playoffs victory versus HC Ajoie, a second-round victory versus Genève-Servette Hockey Club by three-games-to-one, then a loss in the finals by three consecutive games versus Lausanne HC.{{cite web|url=https://www.hockeyarchives.info/Suisse2001.htm|title=Championnat de Suisse 2000/01|website=Hockey Archives|language=fr|access-date=5 March 2025}} He was released on head coach on 14 February 2002. With only two games remaining in the 2001–02 season, Graf's team had 20 wins and 41 points, and was in third place.{{cite web|url=https://www.hockeyarchives.info/Suisse2002.htm|title=Championnat de Suisse 2001/02|website=Hockey Archives|language=fr|access-date=5 March 2025}} According to Gino Cavallini who played for EHC Biel, Graf was big on fitness and had his players do two-hour runs in the mountains.{{cite news|title=Championship-caliber coach takes reins at Worcester|last=Wheatley|first=Tom|date=27 August 2000|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|page=D6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-graf-2000/162458633/}}
Graf became the sports manager of the SCL Tigers for the 2002–03 Nationalliga A season, and subsequently as the team's director of player development for the 2004–05 and 2005–06 seasons. He later played parts of eight seasons for EHC Rubigen in the Swiss 3rd League from 2006 to 2016.
=Swiss league playing statistics=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em" | ||||||||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Regular season ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Playoffs | ||||||||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Season ! Team ! League ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM | ||||||||||||
| 1977–78 | SC Langnau | NLA | 18 | 5 | 5 | 10 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1978–79 | SC Langnau | NLA | 28 | 10 | 10 | 20 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1979–80 | SC Langnau | NLA | 25 | 13 | 15 | 28 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1980–81 | SC Langnau | NLA | 33 | 7 | 9 | 16 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1981–82 | SC Langnau | NLA | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1982–83 | SC Langnau | NLA | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1983–84 | {{ill|EHC Thun-Steffisburg|de|EHC Thun}} | Swiss 1st | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1984–85 | EHC Thun-Steffisburg | Swiss 1st | 26 | 42 | 35 | 77 | 22 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1985–86 | HC Lugano | NLA | 29 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1986–87 | HC Lugano | NLA | 36 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 20 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 1987–88 | EHC Olten | NLB | 36 | 27 | 25 | 52 | 20 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1988–89 | EHC Olten | NLA | 34 | 14 | 26 | 40 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 1989–90 | EHC Olten | NLA | 34 | 15 | 16 | 31 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1990–91 | EHC Olten | NLA | 34 | 14 | 9 | 23 | 30 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 8 |
| 1991–92 | EHC Olten | NLA | 33 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 18 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 8 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1992–93 | EHC Olten | NLB | 33 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 26 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 1993–94 | EHC Rheinfelden | Swiss 3rd | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1994–95 | EHC Rheinfelden | Swiss 3rd | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1995–96 | EHC Rheinfelden | Swiss 3rd | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1996–97 | EHC Rheinfelden | Swiss 3rd | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2006–07 | EHC Rubigen | Swiss 3rd | 7 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2007–08 | EHC Rubigen | Swiss 3rd | 11 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 34 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2008–09 | EHC Rubigen | Swiss 3rd | 10 | 14 | 16 | 30 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2009–10 | EHC Rubigen | Swiss 3rd | 10 | 14 | 15 | 29 | 8 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2010–11 | EHC Rubigen | Swiss 3rd | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2011–12 | EHC Rubigen | Swiss 3rd | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2012–13 | EHC Rubigen | Swiss 3rd | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2013–14 | EHC Rubigen | Swiss 3rd | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2015–16 | EHC Rubigen | Swiss 3rd | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
=International playing statistics=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em" | |||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Year ! Team ! Event | |||||||
| 1977 | Switzerland under-18 team | European Juniors | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1978 | Switzerland junior team | World Juniors | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
=Coaching statistics=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;" | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Season | rowspan="2"|Team | rowspan="2"|League | colspan="6"|Regular season | | Playoffs | rowspan="2"|Source | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | Wins | Losses | Ties | Points | Standing | Result | ||||
| 1992–93 | EHC Rheinfelden | Swiss 2nd | 18 | – | – | – | 9 | 9th in Central | Relegated to 3rd League | |
| 1993–94 | EHC Rheinfelden | Swiss 3rd | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1994–95 | EHC Rheinfelden | Swiss 3rd | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1995–96 | EHC Rheinfelden | Swiss 3rd | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1995–96 | EHC Olten | NLB | 12 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 9th in NLB | Did not qualify | {{efn|Totals include results from 7 January 1996, to 13 February 1996.}} |
| 1996–97 | EHC Rheinfelden | Swiss 3rd | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1997–98 | EHC Olten | NLB | 40 | 17 | 18 | 5 | 39 | 6th in NLB | Lost in first round | |
| 1998–99 | EHC Olten | NLB | 40 | 21 | 17 | 2 | 44 | 3rd in NLB | Lost in second round | |
| 2000–01 | EHC Biel | NLB | 40 | 26 | 9 | 5 | 57 | 2nd in NLB | Lost in finals | |
| 2001–02 | EHC Biel | NLB | 34 | 20 | 13 | 1 | 41 | 3rd in NLB | Released 14 February 2002 | {{efn|Totals include results until 12 February 2002, with two regular season games remaining.}} |
Swiss Ice Hockey Federation
{{multiple image|align=right|total_width=320|image1=Nino Niederreiter - Switzerland vs. Canada, 29th April 2012-2.jpg|alt1=Hockey player dressed in a white jersey with a red cross as the logo|image2=Nico Hischier 20161227 second.jpg|alt2=Hockey player dressed in a red jersey with a white cross as the logo|footer=Swiss players Nino Niederreiter (white jersey) and Nico Hischier (red jersey)}}
Graf served as the international youth hockey supervisor for the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation (SIHF) from 2006 to 2022. He also sat on the coaching and development committee of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) for eight years, and instructed at international hockey camps.{{cite web|url=https://www.hockeymanitoba.ca/coaches/2011-2/|title=Coach Camp 2011|last=Prystupa|first=Kyle|date=2011|website=Hockey Manitoba|access-date=19 November 2024}}
In training players, Graf emphasized that hockey is more than a game, and it can develop life skills. He created the "Foundation, Talent, Elite, Mastery" program adopted as the SIHF mantra. He later created an "umbrella" program to foster local and regional support of players, and developed virtual training programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. In discussing foreign import players in Swiss leagues, Graf felt that they could "strengthen the structure and boost competition", but felt that limits were necessary to give Swiss players a chance to develop.{{cite news|title=Der Umgang mit Lizenz-Schweizern: ein schwieriger Balanceakt|date=12 October 2023|work=Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen|language=de|url=https://www.srf.ch/sport/eishockey/national-league/national-league-der-umgang-mit-lizenz-schweizern-ein-schwieriger-balanceakt|access-date=24 November 2024}}
Graf created the "swissmadehockey" guidelines for training junior hockey players, which then formed the approach to training the Switzerland men's national ice hockey team, and helped develop national team players Nico Hischier and Nino Niederreiter.{{cite news|title=Schweizer Baumeister des Hockey-Nachwuchs wird mit tollem Award geehrt|date=26 May 2024|work=Sport.ch|language=de|url=https://sport.ch/eishockey-nationalmannschaften/1290834/schweizer-baumeister-des-hockey-nachwuchs-wird-mit-tollem-award-geehrt|access-date=24 November 2024}} Graf also served as an assistant coach at the 2010 Deutschland Cup, when Switzerland finished second place,{{cite web|url=https://hockeyarchives.info/inter2011.htm|title=Matches internationaux de hockey sur glace 2010/11|website=Hockey Archives|language=fr|access-date=23 December 2024}} and was an assistant coach for team Switzerland in ice hockey at the 2019 Winter Universiade where they finished eighth place.{{cite web|url=https://www.eurohockey.com/player/66250-markus-graf.html|title=Markus Graf profile|website=Eurohockey|access-date=23 November 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://hockeyarchives.info/Universiades2019.htm|title=Universiades d'hiver 2019|website=Hockey Archives|language=fr|access-date=23 December 2024}}
When Graf became the SIHF director of recruitment and education in 2022, his focus turned to the training of coaches.{{efn|Graf was the SIHF director of recruitment and education from 2022 until 31 May 2024. Focused on the training of coaches.{{cite news|title=Haben wir genug gute Juniorentrainer?|last=Kapp|first=Kristian|date=5 September 2024|work=Tages-Anzeiger|language=de|location=Zurich, Switzerland|url=https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/eisbrecher-podcast-markus-graf-uebers-eishockey-487572767468|access-date=24 November 2024}}{{cite news|title=Sorge dafür, dass das Kind am nächsten Tag wieder zu dir kommen will|last=Kapp|first=Kristian|date=23 September 2024|work=Tages-Anzeiger|language=de|location=Zurich, Switzerland|url=https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/eishockey-markus-graf-ueber-nachwuchs-und-trainerausbildung-528670478491|access-date=24 November 2024}}}} He stressed that coaches needed the same level of training as players, to impart knowledge, and to gain the trust of the players. He felt that a coach's behavior as a role model, would shape the personality of players. He also sought more youth hockey coaches per player, and more assistant coaches in junior hockey to improve training quality. He also developed a club management training course, which included increasing membership, gaining sponsors, and handling legal issues.{{cite news|title=SIHF–Une nouvelle formation pour les dirigeants des clubs|date=4 May 2023|work=Planète Hockey|language=fr|location=Fribourg, Switzerland|url=https://planetehockey.com/sihf-une-nouvelle-formation-pour-les-dirigeants-des-clubs/|access-date=19 November 2024}}
Graf resigned as the director of recruitment and education on 31 May 2024. He subsequently served on the SIHF board of directors, but postponed retiring in September to serve as the interim chief executive officer until the position was filled.{{cite news|title=Markus Graf taking over from Patrick Bloch as SIHF-CEO ad interim|date=4 September 2024|work=Swiss Hockey News|url=https://swisshockeynews.ch/en/shn/men/swiss-hockey/markus-graf-taking-over-from-patrick-bloch-as-sihf-ceo-ad-interim|access-date=19 November 2024}}{{cite news|title=SIHF–Une solution intérimaire pour remplacer Patrick Bloch|date=4 September 2024|work=Planète Hockey|language=fr|location=Fribourg, Switzerland|url=https://planetehockey.com/sihf-une-solution-interimaire-pour-remplacer-patrick-bloch/|access-date=19 November 2024}} He retired at the end of October 2024, when Martin Baumann became the chief executive officer.{{cite web|url=https://www.eurohockey.com/article/5865-martin-baumann-appointed-new-ceo-of-swiss-ice-hockey-federation.html|title=Martin Baumann appointed new CEO of Swiss Ice Hockey Federation|last=Lundqvist|first=Henrik|date=9 October 2024|website=Eurohockey|access-date=19 November 2024}}{{cite news|title=Martin Baumann wird CEO der Swiss Ice Hockey Federation|date=10 October 2024|work=Der Landbote|language=de|location=Winterthur, Switzerland|url=https://www.landbote.ch/der-swiss-ice-hockey-federation-martin-baumann-wird-neuer-ceo-927647849448|access-date=24 November 2024}}
In 2024, he received the Johan Bollue Award from the IIHF. He was credited for his vision, communication, and IIHF programs to develop youth players.
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Graf, Markus}}
Category:Chief executives in the sports industry
Category:Ice hockey player-coaches
Category:Sportspeople from Biel/Bienne
Category:Swiss chief executives
Category:Swiss ice hockey coaches
Category:Swiss ice hockey forwards