Meet Team Armenia

2024 Dream Nations Cup Results: 

Men’s Team: Second Place

Armenia’s Hockey Comeback

The Armenia hockey club is returning to the Dream Nations Cup in 2025, with the team making their comeback from the inaugural 2024 field. Armenia was one of the strongest competitors in last year’s tournament, finishing second in the men’s division. While the team is a highly competitive hockey club, it is also inspiring for what it represents: the return of Armenian hockey. 

The Armenian Ice Hockey Federation became an associate member of the International Ice Hockey Federation and competed in several events before the team played its last game as a program in 2010. After 2010, the team remained dormant for several years before Herag Saiyan, an Armenian from Montreal, decided he wanted to help bring the team back. 

While Saiyan’s North American outfit is separate from the Armenian national team, the club has been instrumental in bringing back hockey to the country. What started as a grassroots campaign to get Armenia more involved in hockey became a full-on comeback for the nation.

This comeback culminated in April 2025, when Armenia returned to IIHF competition for the first time since 2010. From April 13-19, the IIHF Div IV World Championships were hosted in Yerevan, Armenia, with the host nation joined by Uzbekistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Iran, and Kuwait. Armenia finished second in that tournament, putting together a strong showing that included an overtime victory over eventual champions Uzbekistan. 

The team that will represent Armenia at the Dream Nations Cup hopes they can use that performance as inspiration to put together a strong showing in New York.

Armenia Returns to DNC with Big Goals

Armenia proved to be one of the strongest competitors at the inaugural Dream Nations Cup with an exciting and high-scoring brand of hockey. Team Armenia boasted five players (Mikka Kelechian, Tomas Zourikian, Chris Dedeyan, Alexei Dikranian and Artashes Arutanyan) in the top 15 scorers of the men’s bracket. 

The potent scoring attack propelled Armenia to coming within just one goal of taking home the gold medal, falling 7-6 in overtime in the men’s tournament finals. While the most crucial part about participating in the Dream Nations Cup is growing the game, Herag Saiyan admits the team is coming into this year with a bad taste in their mouth and the ultimate goal of taking home first place.

“For us, the number one thing is to bring all the guys together, to grow the game and the culture within our team, but when it comes to competitiveness? We all want to win.” Saiyan said, “We’re coming into this tournament with the mindset that we will win. It’s not just to participate, but to win and show good hockey.”

While Armenia impressed at the first edition of the Dream Nations Cup, it isn’t the first time Saiyan’s group has ended up on the podium during major competitions.

Armenia will compete against the other Men’s Division I teams at the Dream Nations Cup, including Team Indigenous, Egypt, Central America, Peurto Rico, and South Korea. The field will certainly be competitive, but Armenia is primed to make a run at the championship this year. 

Saiyan believes part of that success can be attributed to how strongly the team resonates with Armenian culture and the atmosphere that creates. 

United Through Culture

Every team and its players who suit up for the Dream Nations Cup take tremendous pride in their nation, community, and culture. They all share the common bond of wanting to share and grow hockey within their community. Team Armenia is no different, as the club is a tight-knit group connected by its shared culture.

Herag Saiyan says this shared bond is an essential part of team-building and has led the team to be incredibly close off and on the ice.

“With Armenians, it’s like – I might not know you, but if we spend time together, if I see you for a week, then we’re like brothers. We have the mentality that we always stick together, and that’s the case with the team, too.” Saiyan said, “We say Armenians are like warriors because together we don’t fail.”

The Armenian club’s sense of connection extends beyond their friendships. The team is also actively promoting and growing the game of hockey for those in Armenia and Armenians around the world. 

Lucas Fung, one of the club’s players, is the founder of the initiative “Hyes for Hockey.” The initiative aims to promote the love of hockey among Armenians while supporting the development of hockey in Armenia, focusing on youth hockey. Fung has raised over $20,000 in equipment and funds. 

Programs like Hyes for Hockey are vital to the Armenian club’s goal of growing hockey in their home country. The team recently saw the fruits of that labor when they had the chance to play in Armenia. Saiyan says the team’s reception was inspiring.

“Over there (In Armenia), they looked at us like we were professionals. People loved how fast and intense the game was. Little kids were asking for autographs or jerseys or sticks.” Saiyan said, “We were giving out whatever we had, just throwing out our gear, and it made them so happy. They loved it. That’s what’s important about this club.”

You can follow Team Armenia’s journey on social media. Catch them at the 2025 Dream Nations Cup in New York City from May 27 to June 1.