Thailand hopes to host the Pan Pacific Series U-16 next year, with “Andrew,” the Thai captain, winning the Best Defender award.
The Pan Pacific Series 2026 ice hockey tournament for under-16 players, featuring four countries—host New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, and Thailand—has concluded, with the Thai national team finishing in fourth place.
Nonetheless, the Thai youth ice hockey team impressed by defeating host New Zealand in the opening match, while Andrew Pong, the under-16 Thai team captain, was honored as the tournament's Best Defender.
“Bam” Janista Luechalermwong, manager of the Thai under-16 national team, said that overall, all athletes performed to the best of their abilities. Although the team finished fourth, the key was gaining experience and learning from international competition.
“All our athletes gave their utmost effort. Despite finishing fourth, we won against host New Zealand in the opening game. We acknowledge that most Thai players still have limited international experience, but everyone has a fighting spirit.”
The Thai team manager added that the athletes faced several challenges, including adjusting to the time difference from Thailand and weather conditions that caused some players to fall ill. Nevertheless, everyone continued to perform at their best throughout the tournament.
“Regarding the results, we did not primarily focus on rankings. Our main goal was to provide players the opportunity to compete internationally representing Thailand, which is valuable experience they can use to improve in the future.”
Furthermore, the coaching staff ensured all players got playing time to expose the Thai youth to real match situations, learn how to handle stronger opponents, and find ways to develop themselves toward higher-level competitions.
Looking ahead, Thailand is interested in bidding to host the Pan Pacific Series U-16 next year. This would not only allow Thai youth ice hockey players to compete at home but also serve as an important opportunity to promote tourism and stimulate the national economy through hosting an international sporting event.
Meanwhile, the next program for Thailand’s youth ice hockey team is the under-14 national team’s participation in the One Hockey, 14th PEE WEE & BANTAM International Tournament 2026, scheduled from 2 to 7 November 2026 in Australia.