Cayman Islands Roller Hockey Standout Jaxon Cover Shines in OHL

London Knights forward learned valuable skills from playing roller hockey in the tropics before making the transition to ice hockey in Canada.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 4:00am

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Jaxon Cover, an 18-year-old forward for the London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League, had an unconventional path to major junior hockey. Born in Miami but raised in the Cayman Islands, Cover honed his skills playing roller hockey before making the move to Canada at age 12 and discovering a passion for ice hockey. Despite having to learn new rules like icing and offside, Cover's roller hockey background has translated well to the ice, giving him exceptional puck handling, skating, and hockey IQ.

Why it matters

Cover's journey from the hockey tropics to a hockey hotbed in Canada is an inspiring story that highlights how diverse backgrounds and untraditional paths can produce talented hockey players. His success also demonstrates the value of roller hockey in developing key skills that translate to the ice. As Cover continues to impress in the OHL, his story serves as an example of how players from non-traditional hockey markets can make it to the highest levels of the sport.

The details

Cover was born in Miami but moved to the Cayman Islands as an infant, where he was raised playing roller hockey. He excelled at the sport, being named MVP and the fastest skater at the 2016 North American Roller Hockey Championship. When Cover moved to Canada at age 12 to attend St. Andrew's College, he initially focused on soccer before picking up ice hockey in his second season. Despite having to learn new rules, Cover's roller hockey skills, including his stickhandling, skating, and hockey IQ, have translated well to the ice. After being drafted by the London Knights in 2024, Cover has continued to improve, recording 47 points in 62 games this season and earning recognition from NHL Central Scouting as the 45th-ranked North American skater for the 2026 NHL Draft.

  • Cover was born in Miami, Florida, but moved to the Cayman Islands as an infant.
  • In 2016, Cover was named MVP and the fastest skater at the North American Roller Hockey Championship.
  • At age 12, Cover moved to Canada to attend St. Andrew's College, where he initially played soccer before picking up ice hockey in his second season.
  • The London Knights drafted Cover in the fourth round (No. 64) of the 2024 OHL draft.
  • This season (2025-26), Cover has recorded 47 points (19 goals, 28 assists) in 62 games for the London Knights.

The players

Jaxon Cover

An 18-year-old forward for the London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League, who was born in Miami but raised in the Cayman Islands playing roller hockey before moving to Canada at age 12 and transitioning to ice hockey.

Dale Hunter

The head coach of the London Knights, who recognized Cover's potential and gave him valuable playing time in the OHL as a 16-year-old.

Mark Hunter

The general manager of the London Knights, who drafted Cover in the fourth round of the 2024 OHL draft and has helped develop his game.

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What they’re saying

“When you watch me skate, I have a stride that almost looks like a roller hockey stride. The way I can handle things with my hands in small spaces is another area that has translated well for me from roller to ice. There's a lot of small space to work in road hockey and I feel my hockey IQ is better as a result. Having less skaters on the playing surface (four skaters, one goalie) helped me slow down the play a lot more and slowing down the play in my head enables me to know my options on the ice.”

— Jaxon Cover (nhl.com)

“His game has really trended in the right direction being a first-year player at the OHL level. He's a really strong skater who's starting to use his size to be both the power forward and player that can beat you with a dangle or lateral movement. He's beginning to understand how he can use his size and hockey sense as a combination to possess the puck or steal from opponents.”

— David Gregory, NHL Central Scouting associate director (nhl.com)

What’s next

Cover will look to continue his development with the London Knights and maintain his strong play as he aims to improve his defensive zone coverage and skating even further. NHL scouts will be closely monitoring his progress as he looks to solidify his status as a potential early-round draft pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

The takeaway

Jaxon Cover's journey from the hockey tropics of the Cayman Islands to becoming a top prospect in the Ontario Hockey League is a testament to the value of diverse backgrounds and untraditional paths in hockey. His roller hockey skills have translated remarkably well to the ice, showcasing how players from non-traditional markets can thrive at the highest levels of the sport through hard work and dedication.