Heinz Henschel
Heinz Henschel | |
|---|---|
| Born | 27 January 1920 Berlin, Germany |
| Died | 21 October 2006 (aged 86) Berlin, Germany |
| Occupation(s) | Ice hockey athlete, sports official, banking professional |
| Years active | 1932–1956 (player) |
| Known for | Two German ice hockey championships; president of the German Ice Sport Federation; IIHF Hall of Fame inductee |
Heinz Henschel (27 January 1920 – 21 October 2006) was a prominent German ice hockey athlete, sports official, and banking professional. Over a 24-season span, he secured two national titles with the Berliner Schlittschuhclub. Following his athletic career, Henschel transitioned into banking with a focus on sports and entertainment sectors. He played a pivotal role in founding several sports organizations and held the presidency of the German Ice Sport Federation. Additionally, he led German delegations at multiple Winter Olympic Games and was an active member of the German Olympic Sports Confederation. His extensive service earned him recognition in both the IIHF Hall of Fame and the German Ice Hockey Hall of Fame.
Early life
Born in Berlin on 27 January 1920, Henschel began skating at nine years old and by ten had formed a student ice hockey team at his school in Lankwitz.
Career
Throughout his 24-year playing tenure (1932–1956), Henschel was positioned as a forward and achieved two German championship victories with Berliner Schlittschuhclub. His playing career also included stints with Berliner EV 1898, LTTC Red-White Berlin, Prussia Berlin, and SC Brandenburg.
In his banking endeavors, Henschel encountered difficulties following financial losses connected to the Berlin Sportpalast, which ultimately led to the shutdown of his Steglitz-based bank. Efforts to convert the arena into an entertainment venue resulted in substantial debts due to an expensive leasing contract.
Shifting towards sports governance, Henschel participated in the 1947 Ice Hockey World Championships where he successfully negotiated Germany’s reinstatement into the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and secured their involvement in subsequent World Championships. He also represented West Germany in securing IIHF membership for the German Ice Hockey Federation.
Henschel was instrumental in founding key institutions such as the Berlin Ice Sport Federation, Berlin Regional Sport Federation, German Ice Sport Federation, and German Ice Hockey Federation. His leadership roles included serving as president of the German Ice Sport Federation from 1963 until 1988, heading the German Ice Sports Federation between 1992 and 1994, and holding an executive position within the German Sports Federation (GSF). Under GSF auspices, he established the German Ice Hockey Museum.
He acted as chief organizer for the 1983 World Ice Hockey Championships hosted in West Germany. Two decades later, in 2003, he marked the anniversary of the historic West versus East Germany match from that championship, highlighting the importance of unity within a single federation.
Henschel led German teams at eight Winter Olympic Games and managed national squads at 27 Ice Hockey World Championships. Within the German Olympic Sports Confederation, he fulfilled the role of Chef de Mission for West Germany during the 1984 Winter Olympics.
Later life and honors
In recognition of his contributions to ice hockey development, Henschel was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame as a builder in 2003 and was also honored by induction into the German Ice Hockey Hall of Fame. He received honorary membership statuses from the German Ice Hockey Federation, German Ice Sport Federation, and Berlin Ice Sport Association.
He passed away on 21 October 2006 in his hometown of Berlin.