Meet Team Mexico

2024 Dream Nations Cup Results:

Men’s Team: Sixth Place

Mexico Hopes to Make Strides at Dream Nations Cup

The Dream Nations Cup started with the goal of being an invitational international ice hockey tournament that celebrates and emphasizes the emergence of the sport in non-traditional hockey markets. One of the most exciting things about that part of the tournament is that it means that as the sport grows in its respective market, we should see improvements from returning teams. That fact is why the Mexico Lions are shaping up to be one of the teams to watch at this year’s Dream Nations Cup.

The Lions suited up for last year’s inaugural Dream Nations Cup, finishing in sixth place. While the team finished last in the men’s division, the tournament served as an excellent opportunity to learn from other up-and-coming programs that had also once been in their infancy. In preparation for this year’s tournament, Mexico Lions founder Alberto Orduña spoke about how vital the team’s experience in the Dream Nations Cup was last year. 

“One of the best memories from the tournament was that other players, coaches and programs were so respectful to us. From the beginning, they saw the way we trained and worked.” Orduña said, “Some of the other teams told us it was great for us to participate. They told us it was a good beginning because all of their teams started like we did.”

With encouragement from other teams and a year of experience under their belt, Orduña and the team are looking to make huge strides at this year’s tournament. Orduña says the team came closer together and has renewed purpose since playing in last year’s cup.

“It was a great experience for us to play at that level. It was levels above other games we’ve been in. Most of the players on our team hadn’t gotten to experience that hockey culture. Playing in the Dream Nations Cup was a good example for them.” Orduña says, “After the tournament, the players on our team are playing differently and thinking differently about ice hockey in Mexico.”

While last year’s tournament was a great experience for the Lions, which the team hopes to build on, Orduña and the team have goals far loftier than their own improvement: helping grow the game in Mexico.

Growing the Game at Home

Alberto Orduña has been involved in ice hockey for a long time, but his entrance into the sport is a bit unconventional. In the 1990s, Orduña was more interested in basketball, but an injury to his heels led him to fall in love with hockey. His doctor recommended ice skating as a way to strengthen his heels, and he’s been involved in hockey since. 

These days, Orduña is far more focused on growing the game of hockey in Mexico so that others in his country can experience the joy of the sport. While hockey in Mexico has come a long way since the 1990s, there’s still plenty more to be done, Orduña says. 

Through hard work and persistence, Orduña has become a key figure in growing the sport in his home country. Over the last five years, Orduña ran an independent hockey league that grew from four to 16 teams across three divisions. Though the league is no longer running, the increased interest in playing hockey is evident. 

The more people participating in hockey, the better. Programs like the Mexico Lions give players from all experience levels the opportunity to play for a team, improve their games, and ultimately become vital parts of the hockey community. Orduña says that participation in events like the Dream Nations Cup is crucial in getting more people interested in playing hockey.

“At the beginning, the people here in Mexico were not interested in the team. But when they saw the comments from the organizers and other teams [of the Dream Nations Cup], they started to get more interested.” Orduña said, “They saw the team’s recognition and wanted the same. We’re a small group right now, but we are serious about the things we’re doing. Now, other people want to participate, too.”

A Bright Future Awaits Lions

As more people become interested in participating in the Mexico Lions program, the brighter the future looks for the program and hockey in Mexico as a whole. The team is focused on putting on a great performance in New York, but that’s just one piece of the puzzle towards raising awareness in the country. 

Orduña and the Lions’ primary goal this season is to shine a bigger spotlight on hockey in Mexico and raise the standards for the country’s hockey culture. This means taking things more seriously regarding off-ice training methods, video analysis, and opportunities to play against high-level competition to learn what it takes to be a top program. 

“Our first goal this year is ice hockey consciousness in our country. We are working on mindfulness of hockey for our players, not only what it takes to compete on the ice but also off it. We must increase education about the sport and build a culture like the teams we play against in tournaments like these (Dream Nations),” Orduña said.

The Lions’ hockey program has tons of momentum and a dedicated team behind it to ensure that the future of ice hockey is bright; both for the team and ice hockey in Mexico.

The Dream Nations Cup is excited to shine a spotlight on the Mexico Lions program. This year, they’ll play in the new division system against Pakistan, Brazil, and Team Caribbean. 

You can follow Team Mexico’s journey using the social media links below. Catch them at the 2025 Dream Nations Cup in New York City from May 27 to June 1.