Fiesta de Hockey celebrating, promoting sport in Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Alejandro Cadeñas was determined to fill his father’s shoes, and the net.

Unable to wear his Crocs, the 9-year-old from Dorado, Puerto Rico, borrowed his dad’s Size 11 sneakers, laced them up tight and scored during a ball hockey exhibition with the Puerto Rico Ice Hockey Association’s women’s national team at La Pista de Hockey Inline in San Juan on Friday.

“I wanted to prove that I could do it,” said Alejandro, who plays in an island ball hockey league that started earlier this year. “I just really wanted to play.”

The ball hockey game and a spirited contest between members PRIHA’s national men’s team and a local inline hockey club were part of Fiesta de Hockey, a three-day event here to promote and celebrate the sport on the U.S. island territory of nearly 3.2 million people.

The event concludes Saturday with the first NHL STREET tournament played in the Caribbean and Latin America. The games are scheduled to be played at Parque Dr. José Celso Barbosa in San Juan.

NHL STREET is the NHL’s official Youth Street Hockey League. The North America-wide program aims to create an affordable, neighborhood-based model that gives kids everywhere an opportunity to learn and play.

The Fiesta de Hockey exhibition on Friday gave more than 100 onlookers, many of them locals, a chance to see hockey up close, which PRIHA officials say is vital in their drive to grow the sport and fulfill their goal of Puerto Rico someday playing in International Ice Hockey Federation world championships and the Winter Olympics.

“A big part of what we're trying to do is also grow fandom,” PRIHA president Scott Vargas said. “Some of the people in the stands were our players who came over, but we had also people who live here that maybe they don't even have interest in playing, but they now love hockey. They saw it. They experienced it for the first time.”

They got a taste of hockey tropics-style. The whirring sounds of electric fans blowing warm air into the sweltering hockey/inline facility mingled with the rhythms of Salsa music blaring over loudspeakers and sticks hitting pucks.

The heat did little to lessen the enthusiasm of the players. Alejandro Cadeñas’ 14-year-old sister, Sofia, couldn’t believe she was on the same rink with members of Puerto Rico’s women’s team that won the 2025 IIHF Women’s 3x3 Series in Buenos Aires, Argentina in November.

“It’s so incredible for me," Sofia said, "because having played with girls at that level, it’s really good to learn from that level.”

Angel Miranda said he’s now a hockey fan after watching the Puerto Rican men’s team and the local inline squad skate to a 16-16 overtime draw.

“This is the first time I see it, and I like it,” the 49-year-old from Isabela, Puerto Rico said. “Puerto Ricans are going to love hockey. Why? I guarantee they’re going to love it because there’s a lot of action.”

The Fiesta de Hockey has also been meaningful for the Puerto Rico’s men’s and women’s players, many of whom live in the United States.

For Estela Vazquez, a 14-year-old goalie from New York City, it’s the first trip to the island of her grandparents.

“It makes me feel like I’m wearing the jersey with more pride,” said Estela, who was named the best goalie in the 3x3 tournament in Buenos Aires. “Now I know who I’m representing even more.”