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The 2025 Dream Nations Cup has officially wrapped up, and if there’s one storyline stealing the spotlight—it’s Egypt. The Egyptian women’s hockey team pulled off a thrilling overtime win to clinch the gold medal over Puerto Rico, announcing themselves as a rising force in international hockey.

A Tournament for the Dreamers

Held from May 27th to June 1st in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the Dream Nations Cup isn’t your typical hockey event. It’s a celebration of the sport’s global growth, bringing together teams from countries and communities where hockey is still finding its footing. As highlighted in the official Dream Nations Cup recap, the tournament aims to spotlight the emergence of hockey in non-traditional markets.

On the men’s side, nations like Armenia, Brazil, Pakistan, Mexico, South Korea, and Central America battled it out, while the women’s division featured Egypt, Puerto Rico, South Korea, the Netherlands, Lebanon, and Team Caribbean.

A New Chapter in Women’s Hockey

Coming into the tournament, the Netherlands were the reigning champs. Led by veteran star Britt Wortel—who dominated the 2024 edition and brought IIHF experience—the Dutch looked primed for a repeat.

Meanwhile, Team Caribbean returned with a chip on their shoulder, having lost to the Netherlands in last year’s final despite beating them earlier in the group stage. Their program, backed by the Hockey Players of Colour (HPOC) Movement, continues to push boundaries and expand the game’s reach.

Then there was Egypt—the underdogs. Known as the “Pharaohs,” they were one of the founding teams of the women’s division in 2024. While their men’s program has existed since 2016, their women’s team was a brand-new squad last year. After finishing third out of four in their debut, they entered 2025 hungry to prove themselves.

From Underdogs to Champions

Egypt’s journey through the tournament was nothing short of inspiring. They tied with Lebanon—who would go on to win bronze—and secured wins over South Korea and the Netherlands to punch their ticket to the semifinals. There, they delivered one of the tournament’s most exciting moments: a 4–3 overtime win against a strong Puerto Rican team.

In the gold medal match against Team Caribbean, all eyes were on the Pharaohs. The game was a tense, fast-paced affair that came down to the wire. Then, with Egypt shorthanded in overtime, Mila Cicarciello delivered the moment of the tournament—burying her third goal of the night to secure a dramatic win and Egypt’s first-ever women’s Dream Nations Cup title.

Cicarciello finished the tournament with eight goals and six assists in just five games, while teammate Rose Dawod Lipari added seven goals and three assists. Together, they formed the most explosive offensive duo of the competition.

Eyes on the Future

Beyond the thrill of the games, the Dream Nations Cup is about something bigger: building hockey dreams in places where the sport is just beginning to take root. As Puerto Rico’s head coach, Lee Elias, put it: “Our goal is to get to the IIHF World Championship and win a gold medal.”

With teams like Egypt and Puerto Rico showing what’s possible, and with the IIHF’s recent recognition of nations like Kenya in 2024, the future looks bright for hockey’s next generation of global powerhouses.

Photo Credits: Mike Young (@360droneshots)