Editor's note: SA国际影视传媒 columnist Thorsten Gohl had the chance recently to talk with Yellowknife's Mario Hernandez-Mellin, who played a pivotal role as a defenceman with Mexico's national junior hockey team that won the IIHF U18 Division III World Hockey Championship on home ice earlier this month.
When asked about the teamSA国际影视传媒檚 performance throughout the tournament, Mario emphasized the importance of structure and teamwork.
"We played a very well-structured game," he says. "Our special teams were key to our success, along with our great offensive threats and prioritizing our defensive zone."
This strategic approach allowed Mexico to consistently dominate their opponents, combining offensive firepower with defensive reliability. They went undefeated - five wins out of five games - on their way to winning the gold medal and earning promotion to Division II Group B for next year.
One of the standout moments for Mario was the nerve-wracking matchup against Hong Kong.
Going in, we were both undefeated, and like us, they had some great offensive threats," he recalled. "We all knew that if we beat them, the gold medal was ours, so it was pretty nerve-wracking."
The game was intense, with Hong KongSA国际影视传媒檚 speed, transition game, and forechecking creating constant pressure. But Mexico managed to pull off a gutsy 4-3 win, putting them in prime position for the gold medal.
The key to Mexico's success was the team's ability to understand and embrace their roles, said Mario.
"Like any successful team, everyone knew their role," he explained. "For some guys, it's going to be scoring goals and being an offensive threat, and for others, it's being shut down defensively. Everyone had a role and purpose, and everyone had key moments that helped us win games."
He said this cohesion and selflessness were crucial in their championship run.
While the tournament was filled with memorable experiences, the favourite moment occurred after their final game against Israel on March 8.
"I've made so many fun memories, from playing sewer ball to going out to eat, but my favourite moment was our locker room after our final game against Israel," he said.
Winning the gold medal and securing promotion to Division II Group B was a dream come true for Mario.
"To win a gold medal in any tournament is an amazing honour, but to be able to represent my country and win a gold medal at home was something I'll never forget," he said. "It felt like all the hard work and dedication from not just me, but my coaches and parents, had paid off."
Despite their success, Mario believes thereSA国际影视传媒檚 always room for improvement.
"Even though we played great, we can always improve everything," he says. This commitment to continual improvement will be key as Mexico prepares to compete in a tougher division next year that will include such countries as Australia, Serbia, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) and Belgium.
Mario pointed to team captain Nicolas Potts, who he said was a standout leader on the team who not only led the tournament in scoring but also provided a great example both on and off the ice.
"He leads by example on the ice, and what really surprised me about Team Mexico was how great the leaders are, from my first time with the U20s to now with the U18s," he said. "Potts played a huge role in our success and in building our teamSA国际影视传媒檚 culture."
Looking ahead, Mario has clear goals for the next season.
"I obviously want to play for Mexico's U20s again," he states. "What happened in Turkiye was not who we were, and we have a chip on our shoulder. My goal is to help our team back into Division III Group A."
Mexico finished last in Turkiye at the IIHF U20 Division III Group A World Championship back in January and was relegated to Division III Group B for next year where they'll play Kyrgyzstan, South Africa and Luxembourg to win promotion back to Group A.
This victory is not just about personal achievement SA国际影视传媒� itSA国际影视传媒檚 a game-changer for Mexican hockey, said Mario.
"ItSA国际影视传媒檚 huge for the growth of the game," he said. "Our victory was all over social media, getting recognition from the IIHF, National Hockey League, and many Mexican sports outlets. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a huge step for Mexican hockey toward becoming a much more respectable name in our sport."
