Pakistan Men Win LATAM Cup Gold, Women Earn Bronze in Historic Run

Pakistan’s men’s hockey team made history by winning the Division III championship at the Amerigol LATAM Cup in Coral Springs, Florida, defeating Peru 6-1 to secure their first gold medal. Undefeated throughout the tournament, the victory marked a remarkable turnaround after managing only one win in their debut appearance last year. The women’s team, competing for the first time, also impressed by clinching the Division II bronze medal despite a short roster.

“This is just an amazing day for the country and ice hockey,” said men’s coach Kameron Sabir. “The women did an incredible job too. To do this in their first tournament with so few players is tremendous.”

Women’s coach Mariya Rauf, also a player at Yale University, reflected on the growing momentum. Holding a cricket bat gifted by her players, she said, “Cricket is our national sport, but this shows hockey is growing every day. There’s talent, and we’re only going to keep getting better.”

Peru, competing in its first LATAM Cup, reached the final with a team largely made up of roller hockey players, including their goalie who had never played ice hockey before. Captain Christian Clement said their run was a big step forward: “We’re pushing hard to play both games, roller and ice. This is how we grow the game in Peru.”

The 2025 LATAM Cup featured 62 teams across men’s, women’s, and youth divisions, drawing more than 1,450 players from 17 countries and territories. Sponsored by the NHL, NHLPA, and Florida Panthers, the tournament has become a platform for developing nations to showcase their talent and attract investment for infrastructure. Many participating countries hope the exposure will lead to rinks being built at home, enabling future qualification for international tournaments.

Other highlights included Brazil’s 7-5 win over Venezuela in the U12 final, Team Caribbean’s unbeaten run to the women’s Division II championship, and a strong showing by the First Nations women’s team, which reached the final in its debut. “The future is limitless,” said First Nations defenseman Tonya Williams. “There are so many native girls who want to play and deserve to play. Mission accomplished — and we’re not done.”