The Costa Rica Country Club in San Rafael, Heredia will host the first edition of the Castillo International Ice Hockey Tournament, an international ice hockey competition that will have the participation of four teams, three international and one national, the Castillo Knights from Costa Rica; the Canadian Citizens from Calgary; Stanley All-Stars from Folkland Islands and the Ruination from Los Angeles.

The Castillo Country Club is the only place where ice hockey and ice skating is practiced in the country; the ring was recently remodeled and has capacity for 50 people skating at the same time.

“The initiative was born five years ago in a trip I made, I went to the Falkland Islands in 2012 where I met the representatives of the teams. Throughout the years I built a friendship with people from Calgary in Canada and Los Angeles, California. We were finally able to agree on a date that worked for everyone and we organized the event”, explained Bruce Callow, founder of the Costa Rican team the Castillo Knights.

“At the end of the day what we want is to make the sport grow, that people feel and live the experience on their own account, we are recruiting players of all ages, and these tournaments will help us with that and to elevate the profile of ice hockey in Costa Rica”, continued Callow, who also confirmed that countries such as Mexico and Argentina as well as Puerto Rico had shown their interest in participating and they are already candidates for next year’s event.

The event, the first of its type in Central America, will be disputed in category Senior, which means players are experienced and of the level of Jason Wood, English goalkeeper.

The Castillo International Ice Hockey Tournament takes place November 18 and 19. Because El Castillo is a private club priority is given to the members of the club, however, those interested in assisting can send an email to the address [email protected] by this November 10.