Meet Team Egypt

2024 Dream Nations Cup Results:

Men’s Team: Finished 4th

Women’s Team: Finished 3rd

Egypt Hockey a Dream Come True 

When Sameh Ramadan was growing up as a devout hockey fan in New Jersey, his dream was always to play for the New York Rangers or Team USA. Ramadan had another dream, too, even if it felt impossible at the time: to play international hockey and represent Egypt. 

Decades later, that dream came to fruition. Ramadan is now one of the key figures in the explosive growth of the Pharaoh’s hockey team, a club representing Egypt in international hockey events. The team has given Ramadan and countless other Egyptians the opportunity to represent their roots while playing the game they love.

The Pharaohs have been competing as Egypt Ice Hockey since 2016, when the team was invited to participate in an African Club Cup tournament held in Morocco. Since that event, the team has gained significant traction both competitively and in the public eye. Egypt Ice Hockey has previously competed in events like the Arab Cup in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, along with several other international competitions. 

That publicity has led to the team being able to identify players with Egyptian through social media, which is one of the key ways the team has built their group of players. That strategy has led the team to grow significantly since its start in 2016. Initially, the Pharaohs only iced a men’s team, but Sameh Ramadan always aimed to open the program up to more players, namely a youth and women’s team. 

“Since day one, I’ve always wanted to build a women’s ice hockey program and team. That was the goal all the way back in 2016.”

That long-held vision finally became reality in 2024.

The Pharaohs Inspire at Dream Nations Cup

Ramadan’s goal of icing a women’s hockey team came to fruition in 2024 when the Women’s Egypt Ice Hockey team suited up for the inaugural edition of the Dream Nations Cup. Ramadan, whose daughters Malac and Danna played on the team, spoke to NHL.com about the importance of seeing the women’s team come to life in the tournament.

“Witnessing the birth of the first Egyptian women’s ice hockey team is not only a personal triumph,” Ramadan said, “but it’s also a pivotal moment in shaping the future of developing hockey within Northern Africa, within the Middle East, within the Arab countries.”

Egypt’s inspiring Cinderella story made them a pivotal player in the 2024 event. The Dream Nations Cup was formed on the belief that hockey can inspire and unite people through the sport’s emergence in non-traditional markets. Ramadan told a story in our interview that displayed how the team inspired Egyptians around the world and how that, in turn, touched the team. 

“We were getting tons of social media comments about how we were motivating people. So, I printed them out and put them up in the locker room before a pivotal game. I thought it would be very motivational, but it turned into waterworks,” Ramadan said. “One of the comments was from a young player in Cairo who was just asking how she could play. How can she get started playing ice hockey? So I get choked up whenever I think about that.”

Both the men’s and women’s teams put together inspiring performances, including a third-place finish for the women’s team and a fourth-place finish for the men’s. The Pharaohs are making their return this year, hoping to play even better. While the team has big goals for 2025, their sights are set even higher for the future of ice hockey in Egypt. 

Growing the Game in the Desert

While most of Egypt’s current roster consists of players from North America with Egyptian heritage, Ramadan and the Pharaohs are focused on growing the game at home in Egypt. Ramadan spoke to NHL.com about this mission and mentioned that talent can come from anywhere in hockey — even the desert.

“I believe you never know where your next all-star is going to come from,” Ramadan said, “[Toronto Maple Leafs center] Auston Matthews is from the desert in Arizona, right?”

Egypt’s ultimate goal is to join the IIHF as an official member, but right now, it is focused on the grassroots efforts needed to grow the program to that level. The Pharaohs make frequent trips to Cairo to spotlight hockey and support the community. They hold events called Egypt Ice Hockey Cares, which include a day of ice skating and other activities. The 2024 event held activities for over 200 orphans, children displaced by regional conflicts and other youth in Cairo. 

Ramadan, again speaking with NHL.com, believes it’s essential to support those who are disadvantaged not just with basic needs but also with fun and something to hope for.

“For orphans, for the disabled, for refugees, people will usually support them with food or clothing,” Ramadan said,  “But fun, or what I call the luxury of being on the ice, is something that’s not usually given in the middle of the desert.”

Events like Egypt Ice Hockey Cares have been wildly popular and have put into perspective how vital their mission is for the team. Though many of the children have never skated, let alone played hockey, the chance to get on the ice is infectious. Ramadan says it’s challenging to get many of the children off the ice once they’ve started having fun.

The opportunity to play for their country is important for Ramadan and company, but the ultimate goal is building a future for ice hockey in Egypt. The team hopes to advance that goal when they take the ice in the 2025 Dream Nations Cup. 

You can follow Egypt Ice Hockey’s journey on social media. Catch them at the 2025 Dream Nations Cup in New York City from May 27 to June 1.