Puerto Rico men's national ice hockey team

Lore & Background

Puerto Rico made its international debut in 2019 at the Amerigol LATAM Cup in Coral Springs, Florida, playing in Division 2. The team won three preliminary games against Argentina 'B', Colombia 'B', and Brazil 'B', but lost the final to the Falkland Islands selection team, earning a silver medal. In 2021, the team moved to Division 1, losing to the Mexico Selects before defeating Argentina in what is considered Puerto Rico's first official game against another national team. They reached the final again, losing to Colombia, and took another silver medal. On September 18, 2022, Puerto Rico won its first Division 1 title by defeating Argentina 4–3 in the final. Eleven days later, the team became an associate member of the IIHF. The Amerigol LATAM Cup is not IIHF-sanctioned, so those games do not count toward Puerto Rico's official international record.

Reader's Guide

The Puerto Rico national ice hockey team represents a significant step for ice hockey in a Caribbean territory, having gained IIHF associate membership in 2022. Although the team has not entered IIHF World Championship events and remains unranked, its participation in the Amerigol LATAM Cup since 2019 has provided a competitive platform. The team's 2022 Division 1 championship preceded its IIHF admission, marking a milestone. The article notes only two NHL players of Puerto Rican descent—Boo Nieves and Nick Paul—highlighting the limited but notable connection between Puerto Rico and top-level professional hockey. The team's history is entirely within non-IIHF-sanctioned tournaments, meaning its record is unofficial. The team's development and future participation in IIHF events remain open, as the article provides no further details beyond its associate membership and lack of World Championship entries.

Did You Know?

• Puerto Rico became an IIHF associate member on September 29, 2022.
• The team won its first Division 1 title at the 2022 Amerigol LATAM Cup by defeating Argentina 4–3.
• Only two NHL players of Puerto Rican descent have ever played: Boo Nieves and Nick Paul.
• Puerto Rico's first official game against another national team was a 5–3 win over Argentina in 2021.