May 13, 2004

The Pan American Hockey Federation regrets the forfeit of Cuba at the 2nd Men's Pan American Cup held at the University of Western Ontario in London, Canada.

The Cuban Team didn't arrive at Toronto Airport as scheduled and have since informed the Pan American Hockey Federation that they were not granted visas to travel to Canada.

"It is unfortunate that we didn't hear from the Cuban problems earlier as we could have tried to assist them. Their late withdrawal prevents the entry of a replacement team and unbalances the format of the competition", said Tony von Ondarza, President of the Pan American Hockey Federation, "My heart nevertheless goes to the players, who really wanted to play and are now deprived of an international competition".

After postponing the first game of the Cuban Team against Uruguay in the hope that the team would finally arrive, the Organizing Committee has now decided to withdraw Cuba from the competition and to adjust the schedule for Pool B, now reduced to 5 teams.

The format of the classification for places nine to eleven has also been adjusted in accordance with the FIH Tournament Regulations.

For more information and the new schedule off the 2nd Men's Pan American Cup in London, please visit the Pan American Hockey Federation web site at www.panamhockey.org.

The Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF) is recognized by the FIH as the governing continental federation for all field hockey in the Pan American region. There are 22 member Nations of the PAHF. For more information please contact info@panamhockey.org.