For the first time, Pakistan has entered the international ice hockey arena, competing in the prestigious LATAM Cup in Coral Springs, Florida, USA. Despite being a hastily assembled team of players with Pakistani heritage from across the United States, Pakistan’s ice hockey squad has shown commendable performance in its debut tournament. This team was formed through the efforts of Donny Khan, a senior official in the US National Hockey League (NHL), and Umar Khan, a former NHL intern, who scoured social media and relied on word of mouth to find 18 players of Pakistani origin.
The LATAM Cup, held at the Florida Panthers IceDen, features over 1,100 players across 52 teams from 17 countries, with Pakistan being the latest addition. After facing tough losses in their opening matches, Pakistan secured their first win by defeating Brazil 5-2. The team’s defenceman, Saem Iftikhar, a student from City College in New York, expressed his pride in representing Pakistan, calling it a dream come true.
Donny Khan has confirmed that this debut will not be a one-off event, as plans are already in motion to return next year with both men’s and women’s teams, potentially paving the way for Pakistan’s participation in the Asia Winter Games and, eventually, the Winter Olympics.
