The Pan American Hockey Federation has announced the names of the countries that will participate in the men's and women's Pan American Junior Championships in 2005.

The men's competition, scheduled for Havana, Cuba, February 16 - 27, will feature 12 countries, namely Argentina, Barbados, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, USA and Venezuela. The format of the tournament will be two pools of six with crossover and classification games.

In the women's event, to be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, March 16 - 27, the twelve countries are Argentina, Barbados, Bermuda, Canada, Chile, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay and USA. The format of the tournament will be two pools of six with crossover and classification games.

The winner of each tournament will automatically qualify for the FIH Junior World Cups to be held later in 2005, and a number of other countries from each tournament will also qualify for the World Cups, based on the number of countries actually participating in each of the five Continental Federation Junior events.

The previous Junior Pan American Championships were won by Argentina for the women and for the men.

For more information about the Pan American Junior Championships, please visit the Pan American Hockey Federation web site.

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.