COLOGNE – The International Ice Hockey Federation welcomed its 69th member as the application of the Moroccan Ice Hockey Association as an associate member was accepted by the Annual Congress in Cologne on Saturday.

Morocco has an ice rink in its capital city of Rabat since 2005 that is used by three clubs and about 90 players. A national team participated in an invitational tournament, the 2008 Arab Cup, together with IIHF members Kuwait and United Arab Emirates, and Algeria.

Click here for the Moroccan country page on IIHF.com.

Armenia suspended indefinitely

Armenia was suspended indefinitely due to eligibility issues with their men’s national team that participated in the 2010 IIHF World Championship Division III Group B in Yerevan, Armenia. The member was on probation due to eligibility issues in the past. The Armenians used several ineligible players and are suspected of having submitted wrong information about players of American-Armenian double citizenship.

The results of all games involving the Armenian team do not count for the tournament.

A final decision will be taken as soon as the investigation is fully completed.