Hispanic Heritage in the NHL: More Than a Jersey, More Than One Night

Hispanic heritage in the NHL reaches beyond a special jersey or a single celebration. On the Hockey on the Beach podcast, sports journalists Daria Mironova in Florida and Fernando Abarca in California explore how year-round connections, Spanish-language coverage, and opportunities in Latin America can bring more people into the game.

More Than a Jersey: Hispanic Heritage, Hockey Culture and a Wild Panthers–Sharks Night

Fernando Abarca hoped the San Jose Sharks would win. Daria Mironova jokingly reminded him that her support belonged to the Florida Panthers.

Their fun game-night banter set the mood for an episode of Hockey on the Beach that explored how people discover hockey, find their place in its culture, and help others do the same.

Mironova welcomed Abarca, a Salvadoran sports journalist who covers the San Jose Sharks and San Jose Earthquakes, to discuss Hispanic heritage, his journey into hockey, and his hopes for growing the sport in Latin America. The conversation also touched on San Jose’s renewed excitement and a Panthers-Sharks matchup that eventually delivered plenty of action.

From El Salvador to Hockey

Abarca grew up in San Salvador, where soccer, basketball, and baseball shaped his sporting world. Hockey rarely entered the conversation.

He first encountered it through The Mighty Ducks, Miracle, and television. After moving to the United States to study, he began following the game more closely. While adjusting to a new country and culture, he found comfort and connection through sports.

Hockey became an important part of that experience.

Some friends initially associated the sport with fighting. Abarca found himself drawn to the athleticism: the balance required to skate, the coordination needed to control the puck, and the ability to make decisions at speed.

His skating journey started years earlier. As a child, he asked for roller skates for Christmas and learned by falling and getting back up. That personal experience now shapes his interest in helping more children discover the game.

Hispanic Heritage Beyond One Night

The discussion about Hispanic heritage focused on developing lasting relationships with communities.

Mironova asked what fans learn through heritage celebrations and how hockey organizations can build on special jerseys, commemorative merchandise, and themed game nights. Abarca welcomed that recognition and stressed the value of continuing those connections throughout the year.

“We’re more than just a jersey,” he said.

For him, meaningful involvement includes regular Spanish-language coverage, opportunities for journalists, and stories about Hispanic people working throughout hockey.

He additionally highlighted the variety of cultures within Hispanic communities. As a Salvadoran, he appreciates traditions from other countries while valuing the importance of sharing his own.

Their conversation explored how those different experiences can enrich hockey culture. Someone who discovers the game in Latin America may follow a different path from someone who grows up attending games and skating at a neighborhood rink. Both journeys offer narratives worth recounting.

Making Hockey Accessible to More Families

When the conversation turned to participation, Mironova and Abarca discussed practical ways to introduce hockey to new communities.

Mironova raised the expense of ice time and the opportunities for equipment companies and hockey organizations to support families. Abarca recalled seeing children roller-skate during visits home and imagining what could happen if they also had sticks and a chance to learn hockey.

He hopes to help create those opportunities.

Roller and ball hockey could provide starting points in places where families have limited access to ice facilities. Equipment support, introductory programs and local partnerships could help children turn curiosity into participation.

Abarca also shared his dream of seeing the NHL explore games in Latin America.

Through his reporting, he already connects with people following the Sharks from abroad. He described messages from fans in Argentina who stay awake late to watch games and ask about their favorite players.

Those exchanges encourage him to keep sharing hockey stories in Spanish. They also show how a journalist can help fans feel connected to a team thousands of miles away.

Finding a Place in Hockey Media

Abarca’s story offered a personal look at entering hockey journalism without growing up around the sport.

He bought tickets and attended games before eventually covering hockey as a journalist. Along the way, he sometimes wondered how others would receive his perspective.

Mironova shared her experience as a woman working in hockey. Together, they discussed how visibility, encouragement and opportunity can help someone imagine a future in the industry.

Abarca hopes more women from Latin America will find roles in reporting, broadcasting and hockey organizations. He also expressed interest in pursuing Spanish-language play-by-play, while acknowledging the preparation the job requires.

His approach to journalism centers on people. Beyond the plays and results, he wants to explore the experiences that bring someone into the sport.

Someone once gave him an opportunity. He hopes to offer that same encouragement to others.

San Jose’s Renewed Hockey Energy

Looking ahead to the Panthers–Sharks matchup, Abarca described renewed optimism around San Jose.

He highlighted Macklin Celebrini’s influence and the excitement he sees among fans. From his perspective, people are reconnecting with the Sharks and discovering hockey through the team’s young players.

Mironova recognized that feeling. She recalled quieter years at Panthers games and the increased attention surrounding Florida’s success. Their conversation explored how performances, personalities, and community connections can transform a franchise's atmosphere.

She also reflected on the expectations surrounding Celebrini and the responsibility a young player carries when he becomes such a prominent part of a team’s identity.

Abarca shared his enthusiasm for watching San Jose’s young group develop. The Florida matchup offered another opportunity to see that progress and a perfect excuse for some friendly podcast teasing.

When he wished for a Sharks win, Mironova replied: “I cannot wish you that.”

And Then the Game Caught Fire

The matchup delivered fierce puck battles, brawls, and goals, keeping the night lively long after the podcast conversation ended.

Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith shined like the diamonds they are, each recording a goal and two assists. San Jose held a 3–0 lead until Florida broke through at 17:10 of the second period. By 5:18 of the third, the Panthers tied it at 3–3.

The Sharks ultimately secured a 4–3 overtime victory, giving Fernando the game-night bragging rights after all that joking.

Florida also faced a worrying moment: Aleksander Barkov could not finish the game after an apparent lower-body injury. But that is a story for another episode.

Daria Mironova and Fernando Abarca explored how hockey can welcome more people, share more cultures, and create more opportunities.

As Abarca put it: “When the game grows, we all win.”

Listen to the full episode of Hockey on the Beach with Daria Mironova and Fernando Abarca, available on all major audio platforms.