Armenia

Armenia is a small nation in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Yerevan is the capital and largest city.

History of hockey in Armenia
Armenia joined the International Ice Hockey Federation on September 22, 1999. The Ice Hockey Federation of Armenia is the governing body for ice hockey in the country.

In September, 2009, then president of the Ice Hockey Federation of Armenia, Karen Khatchatyran was killed in a car crash along with his wife, his son, and Denis Davidov, the vice-president of the Georgian Ice Hockey Federation. The group was driving through Turkey to attend the IIHF Semi-Annual Congress in Tunis, Tunisia, when the crash occurred.

The Armenian Hockey League was founded in 2000. Urartu Yerevan has won the most league championships, with five.

The Armenian national team made its debut at the Soviet Winter Spartakiad in 1962. They failed to win a game, and only score one goal at the tournament, losing 1-0 to Lithuania, 46-0 to the Russian Federation, 31-0 to Estonia, 4-1 to Georgia, 26-0 to Ukraine, and 35-0 to Latvia. The national team did not compete again until 2004.

Armenia made its debut at the World Championships in 2004, competing at the Division III tournament in Reyjavik, Iceland. Armenia failed to win a game, scoring only two goals the entire tournament. Armenia again went winless at the 2005 Division III tournament in Mexico City. They lost to South Africa, 33-1, Ireland, 23-1, Luxembourg, 38-3, and Mexico, 48-0. Armenia fared better at the 2006 Division III tournament, going 2-2. They notched their first ever international victory against Ireland, winning the game 6-0.

Armenia did not compete at the 2007 World Championships, as they were denied visas to compete in the Division III tournament in Dundalk, Ireland. Armenia participated in the 2008 IIHF World Championship Division III Qualification tournament held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. They lost to Greece by a score of 8-5, and defeated Bosnia by a score of 18-1. Both games were later forfeited due to Armenia using ineligible players. Armenia returned for the 2010 IIHF World Championship Division IIIB tournament, held in the Armenian capital, Yerevan. Armenia finished 3-0 in the round robin, but lost the gold medal to North Korea by a score of 5-2. Armenia's games were later annulled due to them again using ineligible players at the tournament. All games they participated in were recorded as 5-0 forfeit victories for their opponents. Armenia was suspended from the IIHF in April, 2010.

The Armenian junior national team made their debut at the 2006 World Junior Championship Division III tournament. They also competed at the tournament in 2007 and 2008. Their biggest defeat was a 50-0 loss to Iceland at the 2006 tournament.