NHL’s ‘This Is Hockey’ Series Showcases the Sport’s Growth in Surprising Locations

The NHL released ‘This Is Hockey,‘ a new series showcasing the growth of hockey in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Jamaica, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, highlighting seven surprising locations where hockey is flourishing.

Every episode can now be viewed worldwide, in various languages. In Canada, viewers can watch on Prime Video with English and French subtitles, in the U.S. on ESPN+ with English and Spanish subtitles, and on YouTube.com/NHL worldwide with English, Spanish, and Portuguese options for the ‘Brazil’ episode.

Every episode will be broadcast by ESPN Deportes as well. To view the full schedule, go to NHL.com/ThisIsHockey. The locations and nations selected for this series have participated in the Amiergol LATAM Cup, an event organized by the Florida Panthers and funded by the NHL/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund.

“This series takes us on a journey where hockey fans probably didn’t know the game was even played. It is so awesome to see the passion for hockey in places like South America and the Caribbean, We want to showcase how hockey is thriving and becoming embedded in so many different cultures. It is our hope that this series will shine a light on these burgeoning hockey communities and encourage more individuals and organizations to pursue their hockey dreams, wherever they live.” : said Steve Mayer, President, NHL Content and Events.

In this year’s LATAM Cup, there were 52 teams and over 1,100 players from 17 countries Argentina, Armenia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Lebanon, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela.

“The places and countries selected for ‘This is Hockey’ were communities that could effectively tell their stories revolving around their budding hockey cultures, hopes and plans to build their own ice rinks, and others that are slightly more established in the ice hockey world, showcasing how they did it in non-traditional markets and the goals they continue to strive for, Through inspiring stories and immersive footage, viewers will witness the passion and determination of players, coaches, and fans as they evolve the sport within their local communities’‘: said Rob Knesaurek, NHL Senior Vice President for Community Development & Industry Growth.

Further information on episodes of ‘This is Hockey’ is available.

Argentina’s ice hockey program is expanding from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, moving from a small ice rink in the capital city to outdoor ponds at the ‘End of the World,’ in defiance of the nation’s strong focus on soccer.

Brazil: Stanley Cup winner Robyn Regehr goes back to his birthplace to assist the Brazil Ice Hockey Federation in expanding hockey at a 3×3 ice surface in São Paulo, the only indoor rink in the nation.

In Santiago, modern ice hockey can be linked back to traditional games like ‘palin’ played by the Mapuche people since the 16th century. Observe the age-old tree ritual from within the revered prayer circle, recorded on camera for the very first time in history.

Colombia: Beginning with roller hockey and aspirations of constructing an ice rink in their country, the hockey community in Bogota has achieved victory in international tournaments, such as winning the Amerigol LATAM Cup, thanks to dedicated local heroes and supporters near and far.

Jamaica may be a small island, but it has shared a lively culture with the world and produced legendary athletes in various sports, such as Graeme Townshend, the first NHL player born in Jamaica, and Karl Subban, the father of NHL players PK, Malcolm, and Jordan. If locals were in charge of constructing a rink on a beach, it would broaden Jamaica’s youth prospects.

Mexico leads ice hockey in Latin America with about 10 rinks nationwide, carrying the responsibility of growing the sport with a dedicated group of enthusiasts at the forefront. To their great achievements, they have witnessed a significant increase in the popularity of female hockey, as evidenced by the women’s national team being ranked 25th globally, surpassing their soccer, basketball, and volleyball teams. This growth has been driven by Mexican hockey sensation Claudia Tellez.

Puerto Rico: There is a rising interest in hockey among locals, as young players strive to integrate the sport into their culture. However, the main challenge for the Puerto Rico Ice Hockey Federation is reintroducing an ice rink to the island. Al Montoya, a former NHL player, reflects on his experience playing in an NHL game in Puerto Rico in 2006 and notes the significant progress the game has made since then.