{{Short description|Austrian and German ice hockey executive (died 2015)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Roman Neumayer | image = Roman Neumayer photo.jpg | alt = Color photo of Roman Neumayer wearing a black jacket and a white dress shirt | birth_date = 1930/1931 <!-- birth year based on age at death --> | birth_place = [[Bukovina]], Romania | death_date = 23/24 December 2015 (aged 84) | death_place = [[Olching]], Germany | known_for = Director for the [[International Ice Hockey Federation]] and the [[German Ice Hockey Federation]] | awards = [[Paul Loicq Award]]<br>[[German Ice Hockey Hall of Fame]] }}
'''Roman Neumayer''' (1930/1931 – 23/24 December 2015) was an Austrian and German ice hockey executive. He served as the sport director of the [[German Ice Hockey Federation]] from 1970 to 1986, and as technical director for the [[International Ice Hockey Federation]] from 1986 to 1996. He received the [[Paul Loicq Award]] for services to international ice hockey, and was inducted into the [[German Ice Hockey Hall of Fame]].
==Early life== Neumayer was born in 1930 or 1931,{{efn|Neumayer was reported to be 59 years old as of 6 August 1990. (Born in 1930 or 1931)<ref name="Briggs-1990">{{cite news|title=World hockey chief now Tri-City envoy|last=Briggs|first=Wanda|date=6 August 1990|newspaper=[[Tri-City Herald]]|location=Kennewick, Washington|page=3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tri-city-herald-neumayer-1990/158568829/}}</ref> Neumayer was reported to be 84 years old as of 23 December 2015. (Born in 1930 or 1931)<ref name="IIHF">{{cite web|url=http://webarchive.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=10289&cHash=9aec52d22accc6b255ae4b8ddf613e2f|title=Neumayer passes away|date=9 January 2016|website=[[International Ice Hockey Federation]]|access-date=12 June 2019}}</ref><ref name="DEB">{{cite web|url=https://www.deb-online.de/2015/12/28/deb-trauert-um-roman-neumayer/|title=DEB trauert um Roman Neumayer|date=28 December 2015|website=[[German Ice Hockey Federation]]|language=de|access-date=12 June 2019}}</ref>}} in the historical region of [[Bukovina]] in the [[Kingdom of Romania]].<ref name="IIHF" /> He began in [[ice hockey]] as a player, then a [[Coach (ice hockey)|hockey coach]] and [[Official (ice hockey)|hockey referee]] in Czechoslovakia, before his [[defection]] to Austria in 1963.<ref name="Briggs-1990" /> In a 1990 interview, he stated that defecting was the best decision he ever made.<ref name="Briggs-1990" /> He continued to coach hockey in Austria, and became a [[tennis]] coach.<ref name="IIHF" />
==Hockey in West Germany== Neumayer served as the sport director of the [[German Ice Hockey Federation]] from 1970 to 1986.<ref name="IIHF" /><ref name="DEB" /> As of 1976, the German Ice Sport Federation oversaw ice hockey, in addition to figure skating, speed skating, and curling. Neumayer had 30 teams to choose players for the [[Germany men's national ice hockey team|West Germany men's national team]], which was headquartered at [[Füssen]].<ref name="Cherneski-1976">{{cite news|title=Lack of goodwill upsets West Germans|last=Cherneski|first=John|date=1 March 1976|newspaper=[[The StarPhoenix]]|location=Saskatoon, Saskatchewan|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-phoenix-neumayer-1976/158566871/}}</ref> Neumayer had traveled with the West Germany men's national team on a tour of Canada in 1973,<ref name="Cherneski-1976" /> and was the team's manager in 1976 when they won their only Olympic medal.<ref name="IIHF" /><ref name="DEB" />
Coach [[Xaver Unsinn]] led Germany to a bronze medal in [[ice hockey at the 1976 Winter Olympics]] based on a better goal differential than the [[Finland men's national ice hockey team|Finland men's national team]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Die Sonn' scheint grad so schön|last=Kinast|first=Florian|date=10 December 2015|work=[[Die Welt]]|language=de|location=Berlin, Germany|url=https://www.welt.de/print/die_welt/sport/article149805692/Die-Sonn-scheint-grad-so-schoen.html|access-date=6 November 2024}}</ref> The "Miracle of [[Innsbruck]]" team were all amateurs, and defeated the [[United States men's national ice hockey team|United States men's national team]] by a 4–1 score in their final game of the Olympic tournament.<ref>{{cite news|title=Olympia-Bronze 1976: Das Wunder von Innsbruck|last=Vetter|first=Claus|date=12 February 2016|newspaper=[[Der Spiegel]]|language=de|location=Hamburg, Germany|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/sport/das-wunder-von-innsbruck-3697063.html|access-date=6 November 2024}}</ref> Neumayer arranged a nine-game tour in Canada following the 1976 Winter Olympics. He sought higher-level international competition, but was disappointed with the calibre of the [[junior ice hockey]] teams played from the [[Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League]] and [[Alberta Junior Hockey League]].<ref name="Cherneski-1976" />
In 1978, Neumayer as manager arranged a tour of [[Alaska]] for the national team, splitting the players into two groups with exhibition games for each.<ref>{{cite news|title=West German Skaters Play Alaskan All-Stars Tonight|last=Godwin|first=Chris|date=29 March 1978|newspaper=[[Anchorage Times]]|page=21|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/anchorage-times-neumayer-1978/158567064/}}</ref> In preparation for [[ice hockey at the 1980 Winter Olympics]], Neumayer he arranged exhibition games versus the [[Adirondack Red Wings]], [[Vermont Catamounts|University of Vermont]], and [[Cornell Big Red men's ice hockey|Cornell University]]. The average age of players on the 1980 Olympics team was 21.5 years, drawing from the top tier of the [[Eishockey-Bundesliga]], which scheduled a break to allow its players to complete in the Olympics.<ref>{{cite news|title=West German Olympics skate at Lynah Tonight|last=Huenneke|first=John|date=4 February 1980|newspaper=[[The Ithaca Journal]]|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ithaca-journal-neumayer-1980/158567497/}}</ref>
In December 1980, Neumayer spoke out against teams in West German professional leagues stacking their rosters with more than the two allowed foreigner-born players, resulting in the West German Ice Hockey Federation suspending 50 players with invalid passports from [[List of diplomatic missions of Germany|German consulates in Canada]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Hockey players iced in passport scandal|date=5 December 1980|newspaper=[[Edmonton Journal]]|page=15|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal-neumayer-1980/158567844/}}</ref>
==International Ice Hockey Federation== From 1986 to 1996, Neumayer served as the technical director for the [[International Ice Hockey Federation]] (IIHF).<ref name="IIHF" /> As the technical director, he was an ex-officio member of all IIHF committees and acted in an advisory role to the respective chair of the committee.<ref name="la84">{{cite web|url=https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll1/id/32917/rec/2|title=International Federations|date=October 1986|website=[[LA84 Foundation]] Digital Library|page=614|access-date=13 June 2019}}</ref> He attended an international symposium on refereeing in hockey arranged by the [[Canadian Amateur Hockey Association]] in 1987, where discussion included consistency in the interpretation of rules, and dealing with on-ice violence.<ref>{{cite news|title=NHL proves a no-show at officiating symposium|last=Dawson|first=Chris|agency=|date=21 November 1987|newspaper=[[Calgary Herald]]|page=31|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/calgary-herald-neumayer-1987/158568263/}}</ref> He helped investigate [[doping in sport]] in co-operation with the IIHF medical committee,<ref>{{cite news|title=Reds asked to respond to drug allegation by Igor Larionov|agency=[[The Canadian Press]]|date=10 November 1989|newspaper=The Evening Times-Globe|location=Saint John, New Brunswick|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/saint-john-times-globe-neumayer-1989/158568671/}}</ref> and attended the [[Goodwill Games]].<ref name="Briggs-1990" />
Neumayer felt that development of women's ice hockey was uneven since only a few nations played at a quality level, but was optimistic for the potential inclusion of women's hockey in the Winter Olympics as of 1998.<ref>{{cite news|title=Low profile hurting Olympic bid|last=MacKinnon|first=John|date=28 April 1992|newspaper=[[Ottawa Citizen]]|page=58|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen-neumayer-1992/158569427/}}</ref> In commenting about the [[1992 IIHF Women's World Championship]], he felt that China's play was a pleasant surprise and hoped it would encourage growth in the sport within Asia.<ref>{{cite news|title=Encouraging signs for future of women's hockey|last=MacKinnon|first=John|date=28 April 1992|newspaper=[[Ottawa Citizen]]|page=56|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen-neumayer-1992/158569447/}}</ref> After retiring from the IIHF, Neumayer remained in a technical advisory role at the [[1998 Winter Olympics]] in [[Nagano (city)|Nagano]], Japan, and served as chairman of other IIHF tournaments.<ref name="IIHF" />
==German and IIHF halls of fame== In 1988, Neumayer and Horst Eckert co-founded the German Ice Hockey Museum and [[German Ice Hockey Hall of Fame]].<ref name="HOF-history">{{cite news|title=Ehrenpräsident des Deutschen Eishockey Museums Horst Eckert feiert 80. Geburtstag|date=12 December 2012|work=Eishockey News|language=de|url=https://www.eishockeynews.de/artikel/2012/12/12/ehrenpraesident-des-deutschen-eishockey-museums-horst-eckert-feiert-80-geburtstag/ddd7d817-b195-4a46-87c9-1e5322f4cc61.html|access-date=6 November 2024}}</ref> The exhibits toured German cities inclulding [[Garmisch-Partenkirchen]], [[Mannheim]], and [[Landshut]] until 1993; and were displayed during the [[1993 Men's Ice Hockey World Championships]] in [[Munich]]. The exhibits were stored in Füssen until 1999, when Neumayer suggested a permanent museum in [[Augsburg]].<ref name="GIHHOF">{{cite web|url=https://www.eishockeymuseum.de/museum/|title=Eishockey-Museum|website=[[German Ice Hockey Hall of Fame]]|language=de|access-date=6 November 2024}}</ref> The IIHF since declared it was one of the four best ice hockey museums in Europe.<ref name="HOF-history" />
In 1990, Neumayer helped negotiate a deal with representatives from [[Kingston, Ontario]], to display IIHF memorabilia at the [[Original Hockey Hall of Fame|International Hockey Hall of Fame]], and sought to make North American people aware of the history of ice hockey in Europe. He considered Kingston an ideal location for the proposed [[IIHF Hall of Fame]], since like the city focused on amateur hockey similar to Europe rather than professional hockey.<ref>{{cite news|title=Secret hockey museum deal bumps Toronto|last=Outhit|first=Jeff|date=22 November 1990|newspaper=[[The Kingston Whig-Standard]]|page=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kingston-whig-standard-neumayer-1990/158568925/}}; {{cite news|title=Hockey (Continued from Page 1)|last=Outhit|first=Jeff|date=22 November 1990|newspaper=[[The Kingston Whig-Standard]]|page=2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kingston-whig-standard-neumayer-1990/158569003/}}</ref> In 1993, he delivered more than 4,000 items to the International Hockey Hall of Fame in Kingston.<ref>{{cite news|title=Donation Galore|last=MacAlpine|first=Ian|date=16 August 1993|newspaper=[[The Kingston Whig-Standard]]|page=28|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kingston-whig-standard-neumayer-1993/158567288/}}</ref>
==Later hockey career and honors== Neumayer received the [[Paul Loicq Award]] in 1999, in recognition for his service to the IIHF and promoting ice hockey worldwide.<ref name="IIHF" /> Two years later, he was honored with induction into the German Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001.<ref name="IIHF" /><ref name="DEB" /> [[Franz Reindl]], the president of the German Ice Hockey Federation, said Neumayer was an outstanding and formative personality who had a significant leadership role in winning the bronze medal during the 1976 Winter Olympic Games.<ref name="DEB" />
In 2003, Neumayer and team executives from the [[Augsburger Panther]] assisted in founding the [[Windhoek]] Lions as the first ice hockey team in [[Namibia]].<ref name="hockeyweb">{{cite web|url=https://www.hockeyweb.de/del/augsburger-panther-patenverein-in-namibia-2618|title=Augsburger Panther – Patenverein in Namibia|date=30 December 2003|website=Hockey Web|language=de|access-date=12 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617144457/https://www.hockeyweb.de/del/augsburger-panther-patenverein-in-namibia-2618|archive-date=17 June 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="republikein">{{cite web|url=https://www.republikein.com.na/nuus/ice-hockey-ready-to-take-off-after-cape-tour/|title=Ice hockey ready to take off after Cape tour|work=[[Republikein]]|location=Windhoek, Namibia|access-date=13 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617144455/https://www.republikein.com.na/nuus/ice-hockey-ready-to-take-off-after-cape-tour/|archive-date=17 June 2019|url-status=live}}{{closed access}}</ref> The Panthers donated jerseys and ice hockey equipment. Neumayer assisted in the planned construction of an arena, and used his connections to convince Bernd Haake from Germany to coach the team and set up a training camp playing against teams in [[South Africa]].<ref name="hockeyweb" /><ref name="republikein" />
==Personal life== Neumayer resided in [[Vienna]] as of 1990, and was fluent in six languages.<ref name="Briggs-1990" /> He died during the night from the 23 to 24 December 2015, at age 84 in [[Olching]], Germany.<ref name="IIHF" /><ref name="DEB" /><ref name="eishockey">{{cite web|url=https://www.eishockeynews.de/artikel/2015/12/25/ehemaliger-deb-und-iihf-sportdirektor-roman-neumayer-im-alter-von-84-jahren-verstorben.html|title=Ehemaliger DEB- und IIHF-Sportdirektor Roman Neumayer im Alter von 84 Jahren verstorben|date=25 December 2015|website=Eishockey News|language=de|access-date=12 June 2019}}</ref><ref name="Fischer">{{cite web|url=http://www.eishockeymuseum.de/nachricht/items/das-eishockeymuseum-trauert-um-roman-neumayer.html|title=Das Eishockeymuseum trauert um Roman Neumayer|last=Fischer|first=Arno|date=27 December 2015|website=[[German Ice Hockey Hall of Fame]]|language=de|access-date=12 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011170937/http://eishockeymuseum.de/nachricht/items/das-eishockeymuseum-trauert-um-roman-neumayer.html|archive-date=11 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Paul Loicq Award}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Neumayer, Roman}} [[Category:1930s births]] [[Category:2015 deaths]] [[Category:Austrian ice hockey administrators]] [[Category:Austrian ice hockey coaches]] [[Category:Bukovina-German people]] [[Category:Czechoslovak defectors]] [[Category:Defecting sportspeople]] [[Category:German expatriate ice hockey people]] [[Category:German ice hockey coaches]] [[Category:German ice hockey executives]] [[Category:German tennis coaches]] [[Category:Germany men's national ice hockey team executives]] [[Category:Ice hockey officials]] [[Category:Ice hockey people from Upper Bavaria]] [[Category:International Ice Hockey Federation executives]] [[Category:Museum founders]] [[Category:Paul Loicq Award recipients]] [[Category:People from Fürstenfeldbruck (district)]] [[Category:Year of birth uncertain]]