Tropic Thunder, Ice Edition: From Sarajevo to Al Ain, The Philippines Women’s Hockey Team Are on a Global Run
May 13, 2025
Credit: Hockey Philiippines Facebook
When people say Filipinas can’t handle the cold, they clearly haven’t met our national ice hockey team.
In February 2025, the Philippine Women’s National Ice Hockey Team made history with their first-ever appearance in the IIHF Women's World Championship structure, competing in Division III Group B in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was a debut on the world stage—and we didn’t just show up. We made noise.
No, they didn’t walk away with a medal. But what they did bring home was proof: that Filipinas can compete with the best. That even in a sport dominated by countries with snow seasons, a team from the tropics can lace up, level up, and hold their own.
And they’re not slowing down.
Just a few months later, this same squad is headed to the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s Asia Cup, happening May 31 to June 6 at the Al Hili Ice Rink in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. There, they’ll face off against teams from India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, and host nation UAE.’
If Sarajevo was about introducing themselves to the world, Al Ain is about showing that they belong.
According to the official Facebook page of Hockey Philippines, “This is another big step for women’s hockey in the Philippines. We’re proud of how far the team has come and excited for what this tournament means for the future.”
Credit: Hockey Philiippines Facebook
Let’s not forget: this is a team that’s trained in a country where ice hockey is still in its baby steps. Where ice time is rare, funding is limited, and most people still say “Wait—we have a hockey team?” And yet, they’ve medaled at the IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia, competed through pandemic disruptions, and kept growing a roster of determined athletes who play for pride and for progress.
Every puck drop in these tournaments is more than just competitiosns, it’s culture-shifting. These Pinays are proving that representation on the rink matters. That the future of hockey is wide open. And that just because we’re a tropical country doesn’t mean we can’t bring the storm.
Credit: Hockey Philiippines Facebook
rom Sarajevo to Al Ain, the Philippine women’s ice hockey team is carving out their space in the global sports arena, one stride, one slapshot, one win at a time. And we couldn’t before more porud.