Pakistani ice hockey players stunned their South Asian country as well as international followers of the sport with a historic triumph in NHL-sponsored Amerigol LATAM Cup in Florida while the country’s women’s team made a scintillating debut, capturing bronze.
The men in green appeared unstoppable from the beginning and earned the Division III Championship title in Coral Springs Florida.
In their only second outing in the international event, Pakistan finished the tournament undefeated and held aloft the champions trophy after romping home with a 6-1 victory over Peru in the final.
This outstanding success marks a dramatic rise for a team that had only one win in its debut at the same tournament just a year earlier.
Pakistan men, women enjoy ‘amazing day’ at LATAM Cup https://t.co/LseqFLHzrn
— NHL.com (@NHLdotcom) August 21, 2025
Led by head coach Kameron Sabir, the men’s squad posted a perfect 5-0 record, showcasing rapid development and exceptional teamwork.
Determined not to be outdone, Pakistan’s women’s team scripted a historic success of their own.
The women won the bronze medal in Division II in their first-ever international tournament appearance.
Competing with a small squad of only 10-12 players, the women displayed remarkable resilience, talent, and determination.
This dual success comes much earlier than anticipated, according to Donny Khan, the NHL’s senior director of hockey development and strategic collaboration, who played a key role in supporting Pakistan’s ice hockey growth.
Pakistan creates history 🇵🇰🔥 First-ever ice hockey 🏒 tournament win in the US as they crush Peru 6-1 in the final 🏆👏#icehockey #sports #Pakistansports #ptvsports pic.twitter.com/qFoocrSD97
— PTV Sports (@PTVSp0rts) August 22, 2025
“I thought we’d be winning several years from now,” Khan admitted. “I didn’t think we’d be doing this in Year 2.”
Mariya Rauf, a Yale University NCAA Division I hockey player who coached the women’s team, emphasized the symbolic significance of the moment:
“Cricket is our national sport… But this shows hockey’s growing every single day. There’s talent, and we’re just going to keep getting better.”
Meanwhile, Peru’s men’s team, participating in their first-ever LATAM Cup, celebrated a significant milestone by reaching the championship final.
With players transitioning from roller hockey and some skating on ice for the first time, their journey was seen as a major step forward in the sport’s development in their country.
The 2025 LATAM Cup featured 62 teams across men’s, women’s, and youth divisions, with more than 1,450 players from 17 countries and territories, including Argentina, Armenia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Israel, and Puerto Rico.
Follow for more: Twitter (X) | Facebook | Instagram | LinkeIn
Asim Tanveer is a seasoned journalist working for TV and electronic and print media outlets. He has been working for some of the world’s leading news organizations including Associated Press (AP), Reuters, BBC, CNN, CNBC, Star TV, Voice of America and The New York Times for more than 20 years. He has won several awards for his live coverage of events that include a Reuters News Agency World Award and the Pride of Performance award in 2010.
