Could the Jamaican ice hockey team make the Winter Olympics?

The Jamaican Ice Hockey Team is trying to make strides to earn a spot at the Winter Olympics. Just how far in the future are they?

I was lucky enough to grow up in the era of classic sports movies such as “The Sandlot”, “Remember the Titans”, and “The Mighty Ducks”. The one that almost stands out the most is “Cool Runnings”, the story of the Jamaican Olympic Bobsledding team. “Miracle”, a tale of the United States gold-medal winning men’s hockey team at the 1980 Winter Olympics, stands out as well.

Nowadays, although still rare, it is increasingly common to see tropical nations compete in the Winter Olympics. However, their delegation is usually very small and their main accomplishment is simply being there.

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While the Jamaican bobsledding team gained their fair share of fame and recognition, one winter sport where tropical nations have yet to make a break into is ice hockey. Although the sport has main leaps and bounds to go global in the tenure of NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, the sport is still dominated by countries such as Canada, the United States, and Russia.

Just like bobsledding, Jamaica looks to be the groundbreakers once again.

The Amerigol Cup is a yearly competition put on by the Florida Panthers to showcase hockey in the Latin American region. Slightly abbreviated games (14 minute periods instead of the traditional 20) are held at the Panthers Ice Den in Southern Florida. The tournament’s mission as stated on their press release is as follows.

"The mission of the Amerigol Miami International Hockey Association is to provide hockey players in Latin America and the Caribbean the opportunity to showcase their talent and raise awareness of hockey in their countries, while at the same time growing hockey within these same communities in South Florida."

While it may be a long ways away from the Olympics, Jamaica won this past year’s tournament, earning recognition from the NHL. While it may have been a long way from the Olympics, the Jamaicans are proud, but not satisfied, with their accomplishments. They know the road is long ahead, after all the country does not have its own ice rink, but they feel they’ve taken a major step and people are beginning to take notice.

Even with all the roadblocks ahead, Jamaica has the distinction of being recognized by the International Ice Hockey Federation. A member since 2012, they remain unranked, and according to their IIF profile, only currently have 20 junior members. At the present moment, they obtain the rank of “associate member”, as opposed to “full member” designation received by the sport’s top countries.

While the Olympics remain the lofty goal, the mission has always been to increase participation of the sport on the native Jamaican island. While the Jamaican Olympic Ice Hockey Federation has its own website, initiatives on their home page are aimed at increased fan, player and coaching participation. There are even links for prospective fans to volunteer or donate.

While the bobsledding team in “Cool Runnings” had their Olympic journey edited down to a concise 90-minute movie, the journey of the Jamaican Ice Hockey team is nowhere near as short. Lucky for the team, their journey is not finished.

Just like any true athlete, even when the reach the Olympics, which may even be a decade or two away, they won’t be finished until they’re a force to be reckoned with on a national stage.