Balkan Ice Hockey Union
The Balkan Ice Hockey Union (BIHU) is a federation consisting of nine nations from the Balkan region of South-Eastern Europe. The union was founded in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia in June 2011 in an attempt to "develop and promote ice hockey in the Balkan region of South-Eastern Europe."
The project, given financial backing by the IIHF, was started by Hans Muhic, President of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Ice Hockey Federation, and Djordje Ljolic, the Secretary General of the Serbian Ice Hockey Federation. Ernest Aljancic, an IIHF Council Member, was appointed as the Chairman of the Balkan Ice Hockey Union, and Matjaz Zargi was chosen as its development manager.
In August 2011, an IIHF Balkan Hockey Development Camp was held in Bled, Slovenia. 45 players, nine coaches, and 19 referees participated in the five-day camp run by IIHF Coach Instructor Tony Hall, IIHF Goalie Coach Instructor Danny Jurgens, and IIHF Referee Instructor Viki Trilar, who was assisted by Matjaz Hribar, a Slovenian referee instructor.
The BIHU administered the Total TV Hockey League, and IIHF officials were present for the first game between HK Skopje of Macedonia and Iraklis Thessaloniki of Greece. After only three games, the league was cancelled due to adverse circumstances.
From August 29 to September 2, 2012, a Balkan U16 Ice Hockey Festival was held in Izmit, Turkey. The U16 national teams of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, and Turkey were present at the tournament. Croatia was the only BIHU member absent from the tournament.