Jamaica men's national junior ice hockey team
The Jamaica men's national ice hockey team is the national ice hockey team of Jamaica. The team is controlled by the Jamaican Olympic Ice Hockey Federation and an associate member of the International Ice Hockey Federation since May 18, 2012.[1] Jamaica is currently unranked in the IIHF World Ranking and is not actively competing in any IIHF World Championship events.
History
They are the first Caribbean nation to do this.[2] In order to compete in the Winter Olympics, they must have full inclusion from the IIHF, which requires the nation to have at least one ice rink and a development program.[2] Jamaica currently does not possess an ice rink.[3]
Recently they had held try outs in Canada to form a national ice hockey team that can compete in the next Winter Olympics,[4] roughly two dozen players were part of the tryouts.[5] Due to the tryouts being held in Canada, some accused the team of attempting to "poach" from Canadian talent.[6] Former NHL player, Graeme Townshend is leading the tryouts in order to construct the national team.[6] The current stated goal of the organization is to have a team compete in a Winter Olympic games within the next 20 years.[7]
References
- ^ "Welcome Jamaica & Qatar". iihf.com. 18 May 2012.
- ^ a b "Jamaica has another Winter Olympics dream: hockey". CBS Sports. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
- ^ "COOL RUNNINGS: Meet the Blackburn ice hockey star who could represent Jamaica at the Winter Olympics". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ "Jamaica: Ice hockey trials fuel Winter Olympic dreams". BBC. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
- ^ "Saco man pursues dream of Olympic hockey team for Jamaica". Press Herald. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ a b "OLYMPICS Jamaican ice hockey team poaching Canadians?". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
- ^ "Jamaica eyes Winter Olympics in ice hockey". NBC Sports. Retrieved 19 February 2015.