Jamaica’s ice hockey team emerged victorious in the final match of the inaugural Ice Hockey Challenger Series, defeating a formidable Lebanon team 12-8 at the College Ice Arena in Toronto on Saturday evening.
The match, played before an enthusiastic crowd, saw Jamaica take an early lead, only to fall behind as Lebanon scored three unanswered goals in the first period.
During the second of three 20-minute periods, Jamaica regrouped and fought back to take a 6-4 lead, before Lebanon equalized at 6-6. Buoyed by the crowd’s support, Jamaica asserted their dominance to end the period at 9-6. In the third and final period, Jamaica maintained their momentum, extending their lead to 11-7 with four minutes left. Tight defensive work ensured Jamaica added another goal, although they conceded one more in the latter stages of the game.
Reggie Millette and Givani Smith each scored twice, while Maleek McGowan, Captain Taos Jordan, Amari Sellers, Tyler Drummond, Dante Sheriff, Avery Grant, Josh Mitton, and Marquis Grant-Mentis contributed the remaining goals.
Consistent performance across the series
The Challenger Series, a new tournament involving Puerto Rico, Lebanon, and Jamaica, all associate members of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), began in Chicago in April, continued in New York in June, and concluded in Toronto. Jamaica’s consistent performance across the series earned them an automatic spot in the final, having accumulated the most points over the first two legs. Lebanon secured their place in the final by defeating Puerto Rico 9-3 in the playoff.
Across the three legs, Jamaica won six of their nine matches, bringing their overall record since starting competitive play in 2019 to 16 wins and six losses, with over 100 goals scored.
Don Anderson, president of the Jamaica Olympic Ice Hockey Federation (JOIHF), expressed his pride in the team’s performance and outlined future goals. “We are now setting our sights on establishing an ice rink in Jamaica and building a strong local program that will enable the team to play in qualifying tournaments for the Olympics,” Anderson said. He added that expert opinion suggests that the team could achieve a high global ranking if given the opportunity to compete regularly at the next level.
Jamaica’s victory in the Ice Hockey Challenger Series marks a significant milestone in the country’s sporting history and sets a promising foundation for the future of ice hockey in Jamaica.
