The Dream Nations Cup is entering its second season, which is truly a dream realized for numerous developing hockey nations.
The tournament commences on Wednesday at The Rink at American Dream in East Rutherford, New Jersey, featuring two men’s divisions and one women’s division. The event has expanded from eight participants to twelve. This will mark the inaugural appearance of the Puerto Rico men’s and women’s national teams, as well as the Lebanon women’s national team. It presents an opportunity for the International Ice Hockey Federation associate members to demonstrate their commitment to growth within their communities, particularly in proximity to the media capital of the world.
The Amsterdam Tigers are back to defend their title.
In a remarkable feat, Puerto Rico’s men’s program recently triumphed in the IIHF Men’s Development Cup, marking their first foray into an IIHF event. This success followed the women’s initial participation in the IIHF competition, where they impressively secured 2nd place in the 3v3 category. With a series of top-three finishes in several international tournaments, both teams are filled with confidence as they approach the Dream Nations Cup.
Lebanon will be sending its women’s squad to take part in this year’s tournament. Lebanon Ice Hockey has engaged in various tournaments since it was founded in 2018. The organization has made significant strides in its relatively short existence, but it has even more ambitious plans for the future. Lebanon Ice Hockey seeks to enhance its presence by continuing to join international events. They are hopeful about representing their country at the Asian Winter Games down the line and have long-term aspirations of participating in IIHF and Olympic competitions.
Men’s Division I includes players from Armenia, Puerto Rico, Central America, the Caribbean, Egypt, South Korea, and Indigenous participants from Canada and the U.S.
Men’s Division II features teams from Brazil, Mexico, Pakistan, and the Caribbean.
In the women’s division teams from Egypt, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, Lebanon, the Netherlands, and South Korea are participating.
A new champion will be crowned this year in the men’s Division I since Algeria will not be taking part in this year’s event. The Netherlands aims to defend their title in the women’s division.
Currently, every country has its own challenges, like ice rinks that are significantly smaller than NHL rinks. Yet, this hasn’t discouraged players from skating on the ice in those nations
The sport is flourishing on a global scale, uniting people from different ethnic backgrounds and cultures to play against each other, a situation that would have been impossible in the past.
This growth is what led Ryan Davis to form Indigenous men’s team for the tournament. The 46-year-old retired player, who was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the sixth round (No. 142) of the 1996 NHL Draft but never participated in the League, The team features players from both the USA and Canada, notably those with indigenous ancestry, especially from the Haudenosaunee lineage. Haudenosaunee is another term for the Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy, which is an alliance that includes the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora tribes. The Haudenosaunee peoples originally lived in regions of New York State and Ontario, and at the zenith of their influence, they also claimed territories in Quebec, Pennsylvania, and the Ohio Valley.
The second season of the Dream Nations Cup is set to provide incredible action on the ice, generating excitement for players and fans alike. With the sport’s expansion, the Dream Nations Cup will foster connections among people and nations, honoring the greatest sport on earth.
