2026 Amerigol LATAM Cup Celebrates Growth, Competition and Diversity in Men’s and Women’s Hockey

The recently completed 2026 Amerigol LATAM Cup once again demonstrated the growing reach of ice hockey across Latin America, the Caribbean and the international hockey community. The tournament brought together teams representing countries, territories, heritage communities and emerging hockey programs, creating an exciting environment where competition, culture and the development of the sport came together.

Among the highlights of this year’s tournament were the four senior divisions: Men’s Division I, Men’s Division II, Women’s Division I and Women’s Division II. Each division produced its own champion while providing players and programs with an opportunity to compete at a high level and gain valuable international tournament experience.

The 2026 Amerigol LATAM Cup has proven once more that hockey transcends borders

Men’s Division I – Cuba Takes the Championship

Cuba captured the Men’s Division I championship, marking an important achievement for the Cuban hockey program.

The Division I competition brought together a strong group of teams and provided some of the tournament’s most competitive hockey. Cuba’s championship reflects the continued development of programs from countries where ice hockey is still an emerging sport.

For Cuba, the LATAM Cup represents an important opportunity to bring players together, build a stronger hockey identity and compete against international opposition. Winning the top men’s division is a significant milestone and gives the program valuable momentum heading into future competitions.

Men’s Division II – Italy Heritage Claims Gold

In Men’s Division II, Italy Heritage emerged as the tournament champion.

The championship highlighted the important role that heritage teams play within the LATAM Cup. These teams bring together players who share cultural and family connections to countries around the world while continuing to develop their hockey skills in North America.

Italy Heritage’s success demonstrates the competitive depth of Division II and the quality of hockey being played throughout the tournament. Their championship run was a fitting reward for a team that competed strongly throughout the event.

Women’s Division I – Caribbean Wins the Championship

The Caribbean captured the Women’s Division I championship, adding another major achievement to the region’s growing presence at the LATAM Cup.

The Caribbean women’s program has become an important part of the tournament’s development story. The team represents the continued growth of women’s hockey and provides players from Caribbean communities with an opportunity to compete, develop and represent their heritage on an international stage.

Winning Women’s Division I is a significant accomplishment and demonstrates the progress being made by women’s programs within the Caribbean hockey community.

The success is particularly meaningful because the LATAM Cup has consistently provided opportunities for women’s hockey programs from non-traditional hockey markets to establish themselves and gain valuable tournament experience.

Women’s Division II – First Nations Earns Gold

One of the most meaningful stories of the tournament came in Women’s Division II, where First Nations won the championship.

The First Nations women’s program represents Indigenous hockey communities and brings together players from across North America. Beyond the competition itself, the team provides an opportunity to celebrate Indigenous identity, culture, community and the role hockey can play in connecting generations.

The championship represents an important milestone for the program. It demonstrates that the team has developed not only as a community initiative but also as a highly competitive hockey program.

The First Nations team’s journey is particularly significant because the LATAM Cup provides a platform where hockey can be used to create connections and visibility for communities that may not always have opportunities to compete on an international stage.

Four Champions, One Common Goal

The four senior division champions — Cuba, Italy Heritage, Caribbean and First Nations — represent four very different hockey stories.

  • 🥇 Men’s Division I: Cuba
  • 🥇 Men’s Division II: Italy Heritage
  • 🥇 Women’s Division I: Caribbean
  • 🥇 Women’s Division II: First Nations

What connects these teams is more than their success on the ice. Each represents a community using hockey to build connections, develop players and create opportunities.

That is ultimately what makes the Amerigol LATAM Cup unique. The tournament is not limited to traditional hockey powers. It provides a platform for emerging nations, heritage teams and communities to compete and grow. Previous editions have included teams from countries and regions where hockey infrastructure is limited, illustrating the tournament’s broader role in expanding the sport.

Growing the Game

The LATAM Cup continues to play an important role in the development of hockey outside its traditional markets. For many participating teams, the tournament provides an opportunity to gain international experience that would otherwise be difficult to obtain.

The value of the event goes beyond wins and losses. Players build friendships, coaches exchange ideas, organizations establish relationships and communities gain greater visibility through the sport.

For women’s hockey in particular, the continued presence and success of teams such as Caribbean and First Nations demonstrates how opportunities for women are expanding within emerging hockey communities.

At the same time, the success of Cuba and Italy Heritage in the men’s divisions shows the depth and diversity of the men’s competition.

Looking Ahead

The conclusion of the 2026 Amerigol LATAM Cup is not simply the end of another tournament. It represents another step in the continued development of hockey throughout Latin America, the Caribbean and among international heritage and Indigenous communities.

The championships won by Cuba, Italy Heritage, Caribbean and First Nations will be remembered as important achievements for their respective programs. More importantly, the tournament continues to provide a pathway for players and teams to develop, compete and represent their communities with pride.

As the LATAM Cup continues to grow, its greatest success may ultimately be measured not only by the number of teams or championships, but by the number of new players, new programs and new hockey communities inspired to become part of the game.

The 2026 Amerigol LATAM Cup has once again shown that hockey has no borders — and that when opportunity is created, the game can grow in places where few ever imagined it possible.