Jamaica Wins Ice Hockey ‘Challenger Series’ in Canada
Jamaica’s Ice Hockey team clinched the inaugural Challenger Series title with a 12-8 triumph over Lebanon in the final match held in Toronto, Canada. The Challenger Series, launched this past spring, featured national teams from Jamaica, Lebanon, and Puerto Rico. These teams, unable to participate in the IIHF World Championship due to insufficient rinks or leagues, competed in a round-robin tournament followed by playoffs in three North American cities.
The final match, which drew a crowd of passionate Jamaican supporters on July 13, saw Jamaica initially take the lead. However, Lebanon quickly responded with three unanswered goals in the first period. Jamaica made a strong comeback in the second period, establishing a 5-3 and then a 6-4 lead, though Lebanon managed to equalize at 6-6. Jamaica then surged ahead, netting three more goals to end the second period 9-6. They maintained their dominance in the final period, sealing the victory at 12-8.
Don Anderson, President of the Jamaican Ice Hockey Olympic Association, commended the team’s resilience and commendable performance despite operating with a diminished roster. “In New York, the team commenced with 14 players, unlike the 18 players the other teams possessed,” he observed.
The Hockey Worldwide commended Jamaica on their Instagram page writing, Jamaica 🇯🇲 defeated Lebanon 🇱🇧 by a 12-8 score in the finals to capture the first ever Challenger Series championship 🏆
On the Worldwide Hockey website, they said this was a significant accomplishment for the Jamaican National Team, as they continue to put up strong results in international play. The Jamaicans previously captured a gold medal in their international debut at the 2019 Amerigol Latam Cup, where they defeated Colombia in the finals in a shootout, 3-2.
Despite having no ice rink on the island of less than three million residents, Jamaica is now 16-5 with a 151-78 goal differential against other national teams. It should be noted that almost all members of these successful Jamaican teams have been Canadians and Americans with Jamaican heritage. Most notable would be San Jose Sharks forward Givani Smith, who made his debut with the team in the final round. OHL defenders Taos Jordan and Maleek McGowan — who were both born in Ontario — were also key contributors to this Challenger Series triumph. Regardless of their lack of Jamaican-born talent, this team’s success is still mightily impressive, and it shines light on ice hockey’s growth on a global scale.
Tournament Scores:
Jamaica 6 – 11 Lebanon
Lebanon 2 – 3 Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico 3 – 6 Jamaica
Lebanon 6 – 7 Jamaica
Puerto Rico 4 – 3 Lebanon
Jamaica 5 – 4 Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico 2 – 5 Lebanon
Jamaica 11 – 2 Puerto Rico
Lebanon 6 – 4 Jamaica
Puerto Rico 3 – 6 Lebanon
Jamaica 5 – 7 Puerto Rico
Lebanon 4 – 8 Jamaica
Lebanon 9 – 3 Puerto Rico (Semifinal)
Jamaica 12 – 8 Lebanon (Final)
Worldwide Ice Hockey
In the earlier rounds, Jamaica achieved two victories out of four matches, triumphing over Puerto Rico and Lebanon but enduring two defeats against the same adversaries. This victory represents a significant milestone for the Jamaican National Team as they aspire to make an impact in international ice hockey. Notably, they previously clinched gold in their international debut at the 2019 Amerigol Latam Cup, prevailing over Colombia in a tense shootout with a score of 3-2.
At this time, the schedule for Jamaica’s Ice Hockey team’s next match remains uncertain.
