From Closed Schools to Slapshots: Hockey Unites Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – February 20, 2026 – In a move that blends athletic ambition with profound community renewal, the island of Puerto Rico is now home to its first-ever organized hockey league. The launch of Liga Boricua, a project driven by the Puerto Rico Ice Hockey Association (PRIHA), was made possible through a landmark renovation of the Arenales Summit community facility, funded by a leadership gift from Risk’s Rewards LLC. This initiative introduces the fast-paced sport of inline hockey to the island while simultaneously writing a powerful new chapter of hope in a landscape recently defined by loss and decline.

A Beacon in the Wake of Abandonment

The launch of a new sports league is significant in any context, but in Puerto Rico, it stands as a direct and defiant counter-narrative to a decade of systemic decay in public infrastructure. According to research from the Othering & Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley, the island has witnessed an unprecedented wave of school closures, with over 670 public schools—nearly 44% of the total—shuttered since 2007. The crisis accelerated dramatically after 2017, following Hurricane Maria and the ongoing government debt crisis.

These were not just buildings; they were the vital hearts of their neighborhoods, serving as community centers, polling places, and emergency shelters. Their closure left a vacuum, both physical and social. Reports indicate that years later, the vast majority of these buildings remain vacant and have fallen into disrepair, representing lost opportunities and decaying public assets. The Arenales Summit project boldly reverses this trend. By revitalizing an existing community space and transforming it into a state-of-the-art sports hub, the initiative reclaims infrastructure for the public good, ensuring it serves as a center for growth, engagement, and positive development for generations to come.

Building a Tropical Hockey Haven

The transformation of Arenales Summit from a standard facility into the home of Puerto Rican hockey was comprehensive. The funding from Risk’s Rewards LLC enabled a top-to-bottom overhaul, including the installation of professional-grade sport court flooring, official 92-by-52-foot hockey dasher boards, and an advanced Bluetooth-enabled sound system. Beyond the rink itself, the project addressed crucial infrastructure needs with roof repairs, a fresh coat of paint, mounted air circulation fans for the tropical climate, and a professional scorekeeping system. To ensure the facility remains a multi-use community asset, specialized volleyball net systems were also installed.

This philanthropic investment is driven by a deep personal connection to the sport. “The ultimate team sport, hockey has been part of my family’s heritage for three generations, spanning more than 80 years,” said David Risk. “Puerto Ricans have a passion for education and sports, so combining hockey with a dynamic school such as Arenales Summit is a natural fit. We hope this facility can have a lasting impact on the community for generations to come.”

This endeavor joins a growing global trend of hockey thriving in non-traditional markets. In the United Arab Emirates, strategic investment led to IIHF membership and a competitive domestic league. In Florida, two successful NHL franchises have cultivated massive youth hockey programs, proving that community integration can overcome climate barriers. Liga Boricua appears to be following this successful blueprint, combining private investment with a passionate local organization to build a sustainable ecosystem from the ground up.

Borinquen on Blades: A New Sporting Identity

Liga Boricua is more than just a league; it is a celebration of Puerto Rican identity. The four founding clubs are steeped in local culture: C.H. Coquí honors the beloved native frog, C.H. Fortaleza pays tribute to the iconic El Morro fortress, C.H. Gallito celebrates the legacy of legendary boxer Sixto Escobar, and C.H. Vejigante reflects the vibrant and colorful masks of carnival tradition. This deliberate cultural integration aims to forge a deep connection between the global sport of hockey and the local community.

For the Puerto Rico Ice Hockey Association, which has been fostering floor and inline hockey since 2022, this facility represents a critical turning point. “It has been a challenge to find a stable location, but we have continued to grow our program,” said Scott Vargas, President of PRIHA. “With Risk’s Rewards’ support and dedication, we now have a permanent home here at Arenales Summit. This facility is a place where we will develop athletes from youth to the international stage - athletes that will represent Puerto Rico.”

This ambition is built on a solid foundation. Puerto Rico became an associate member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) in 2022 and has already achieved success on the international stage, with its men's and women's teams winning medals at the LATAM Cup. The new league provides the infrastructure needed to cultivate this existing talent.

Carmen “Santy” Cardona Rosado, Director of Arenales Summit, emphasized how the sport aligns with the institution’s educational mission. “As an innovative school focused on providing a different approach to learning, we view this as an amazing opportunity,” she stated. “As a team sport with a dynamic skill set that requires teamwork, communication, hand-eye coordination, strength and agility we believe this partnership fits right in with our core values.”

A Blueprint for Growth and Opportunity

The league’s structure is as forward-thinking as its mission. Liga Boricua will operate under a hybrid ruleset combining regulations from the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and World Skate. This innovative approach not only governs the current inline league but strategically lays the groundwork for the potential future development of ice hockey on the island, creating a clear pathway for athlete progression.

This spirit of innovation is a cornerstone of Arenales Summit, which employs a unique educational philosophy of IAM: Innovation, Autonomy, and Mentoring. The hockey program serves as a practical extension of this model, offering students a chance to develop leadership, problem-solving skills, and personal responsibility in a dynamic team environment. By providing a platform for both athletic and personal growth, the partnership aims to fulfill the school's motto, “What is your superpower?”, by helping young Puerto Ricans discover and strengthen their unique talents.

With registration now open at juegahockey.com, the slapshots of the island's first hockey players are ready to echo through the revitalized halls of Arenales Summit, signaling not just the start of a new sports season, but the dawn of a new era of community resilience and opportunity in Puerto Rico.