Angeles Chavira is an icon of Mexican hockey. She was a pioneer in Guanajuato. Today, at 65, she cheers from the stands while she looks back in her memories. Her life has been entirely dedicated to hockey.
She is 65 and you can watch her going up and down the stands. She greets a group of technical officials with a bowl of strawberries with cream, typical fruit from Guanajuato. The World League Round 1 is being hosted at the Siglo XXI Stadium. She is excited, she cheers, she regrets, only yesterday she gave everything in every game.
She is 65 and she retired in 2002. She is fully dedicated to hockey. “This is my passion”, she says.
In 1972 at the age of 21 she was introduced to hockey at the Centro Deportivo Olímpico Mexicano (Mexican Olympic Center) coached by Zeeno Fernández D'costa and Saul Diaz De León.
A couple of years later she brought two teams to Guanajuato “Las Gacelas” and “Los Cometas”, for an exhibition game. At that time hockey, was only played in the capital city.
"This was a time when hockey was not as competitive, it was about a strong relationship between players and coaches." There was more sharing than competition. There were few sports items and carrying a "Karachi” stick made certainly the difference. It was not easy to get a goal-keeper equipment. We trained in a basketball pitch...”
“Our first team was formed with our nieces, sisters, friends, who invited their own friends. We soon had a female team and one year later we had a male team as well”.
“With the team equipped with sticks we got from my friends in Mexico City, we started seeking for a pitch in Salamanca. It was the Riama Club who allowed us to train at their venue, twice a week. It wasn’t easy”, Angeles recalls, while naming the officials of the club who started supporting the team by buying sticks and balls to develop hockey.
The first tournaments were delivered with big effort. “With the support of my family, we accommodated visiting teams at home when coming to play in Salamanca. My teammates contributed with meals and lodging, too. This was the way it worked for several years. Otherwise, there was no team to play against. The first team came from the women side. Later we split and formed more clubs; the "Joggin's Snoopy" and "Reavens". Men got organized later in 4 clubs; "Sticks", "Barquito", "Marlboro" and "Fox"”, says Angeles.
“In 1980 we started playing organized tournaments, every year more clubs joined us”.
Angeles Chavira was formally registered as a player in 1973, in Mexico City Association. Since then, she played at all national tournaments until 2002.
Her commitment and skills as a player, found her as a representative of her club and country at international tournaments. She played 5 editions of the Cal Cup, four times at the Torneo Internacional de la Amistad. She played three World Championships; France 1974, Germany 1973 and the Qualifier to the 1978 World cup in Spain against Canada. She also participated at the World Championship in Argentina in 1981. Plus other competitions in preparation to the top tournaments.
She remembers all her teammates’ names and last names, and treasures some special moments. "In Berlin, at the 2nd World Championship, we ended at the 7th place, the best position ever for a Mexican team at international level. We felt much appreciated by people that came to us for autographs. It was a wonderful experience”.
She looks back, nostalgic but passionate. And that was the power that strengthened her for so many years to play and support hockey from any side. Angeles is quite certain of what is needed to develop hockey and she strongly supports managers, coaches and players pushing the growth of hockey.
“There is a club named “Angeles” for children aged 4-13. I feel satisfied and proud of my accomplishments. Hockey was and will continue being my passion”, Angeles says.
Thanks to Angeles and others’ contribution, male and female players, coaches and managers, hockey has grown to a big extent in Mexico. Hockey is now played in 15 states and Salamanca contributes with an important number of players to the National Team.
And it was in Salamanca that Hockey World League Round 1 was played last September. At that time, we had the pleasure to meet and work with Angeles Chavira and her colleagues.
