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What does it take for a Salvadoran man to find his place in hockey, and for the NHL to connect with Latin America beyond Hispanic Heritage Nights?
Fernando Abarca joins Daria Mironova on Hockey on the Beach to share his journey from watching The Mighty Ducks movies in El Salvador to covering his first NHL game. He discusses the challenges of earning respect in hockey journalism without the background or connections traditionally associated with the sport, and why language, cultural identity, and representation matter.
The conversation examines how the NHL could strengthen its outreach through consistent Spanish-language coverage, meaningful marketing, and opportunities for Hispanic journalists. It also explores the league’s role in supporting youth hockey and creating opportunities for kids in South America to try the game.
Hockey is expensive. How can equipment, ice time, and limited facilities become less of a barrier? Do financial concerns help explain the NHL’s limited presence in Latin America - and what opportunities might the league be overlooking?
For Fernando, growing hockey means building lasting connections with communities that are more than just a jersey.
De ver las películas de The Mighty Ducks en El Salvador a cubrir su primer partido de la NHL: Fernando Abarca comparte su historia y los desafíos de encontrar su lugar en el periodismo de hockey.
Con Daria Mironova, analiza cómo la NHL puede ir más allá de las noches de la herencia hispana: mejorar su difusión en español y crear oportunidades para que los niños de Latinoamérica jueguen. ¿Cuánto frenan los costos del hockey y las preocupaciones económicas esa expansión? Una conversación sobre identidad, representación y una comunidad que es mucho más que una camiseta.
Fernando Abarca on IG: https://www.instagram.com/fernandomabarca/
Daria Mironova on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dmironova_sport/?hl=en