From the Cayman Islands to the London Knights: Jaxon Cover’s Hockey Journey on the MyHockeyHero Podcast

As the CHL’s 50th season winds down, London Knights forward Jaxon Cover joined the My Hockey Hero podcast (available on Apple Podcast, Spotify and Amazon Music ) to speak with Dean Barnes about his incredibly unique path to the Ontario Hockey League (OHL ), the pride he carries as a Caribbean-born player in the game and how his hockey journey began far from the traditional Canadian rink — on the beaches of the Cayman Islands.

Cover’s story is unlike that of most players currently in the CHL. Born and raised in the Caribbean, he didn’t grow up surrounded by rinks and a traditional minor hockey system. Instead, his love for the game was sparked at just three years old through roller hockey, thanks to his father, who is originally from Canada.

“It was pretty cool,” Cover shared. “Just experiencing going from the beach to playing some hockey was the best. My dad got me into it when I was three years old, and ever since then, I just found love for the game.” 

While roller hockey isn’t widely played in the Cayman Islands, Cover was fortunate to have access to a local league. As his passion for the sport grew, so did his ambitions. By the time he was eight years old, Cover and his family were travelling across the United States to compete in tournaments in places like California and Florida — all in search of higher-level competition.

“That’s why growing up, when I turned eight years old, we started playing travel hockey,” Cover explained. “We’d go all around the U.S. to play these different tournaments against better competition.”

The travel teams Cover played on represented the Cayman Islands, something he said brought him an immense amount of pride.

“It’s always cool representing your country and just representing the flag that you grew up behind,” he shared. “It was a really cool experience.”

Although Cover’s father grew up in Canada and played ball hockey, ice hockey wasn’t part of his upbringing because it simply wasn’t available to him. That same reality shaped Jaxon’s early years, as organized ice hockey opportunities in the Cayman Islands were nothing like what players have access to in Canada. That lack of access meant Jaxon’s early development stayed off the ice — until a major turning point arrived. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, he was 12, and his parents decided to send him to St. Andrew’s College in southern Ontario to further his education. Even then, he still wasn’t playing ice hockey full-time — in fact, he had never played organized ice hockey.

That didn’t stop him from taking a massive leap. In his second year at St. Andrew’s, Cover tried out for the Aurora Tigers U14 AA team — and made it, despite barely knowing the rules of the game.

“I remember the first tryout, I didn’t really know what an icing or an offside was,” Cover recalled. “I was just stretching the zone… but yeah, U14 was my first time playing ice hockey.”

The adjustment from roller to ice came with challenges, particularly when it came to skating techniques and stopping mechanics. But Cover credits roller hockey for giving him an edge in vision and skill.

“I credit a lot of my skill to roller hockey,” he said. “ It’s such a fast-paced game, and I feel like it really helped my vision.”

By the time he reached U15, Cover was still playing AA and unsure of where his ice hockey journey could lead. But an opportunity came that changed everything: a call-up to the York-Simcoe program. The coach’s belief in Cover helped spark a breakthrough moment at the OMHA Championship, where Cover scored and helped the team win — earning him a spot on the U16 York-Simcoe Express for the following season.

“I didn’t really think I was ready,” he said. “But [the coach] had full belief in me… and we won the finals.”

Cover credited his U16 coach, Warren Cooper, as one of the most influential figures in his development.

“He was a really great coach to me,” Cover shared. “ He taught me everything I needed to know at the time.” 

Then came the moment that any young hockey player dreams of. In the 2024 OHL Priority Selection Draft, Jaxon Cover was selected in the fourth round, 64th overall by the London Knights, one of the most storied franchises in CHL history. For a player who only began playing ice hockey at 13 years old, hearing his name called that early was something he never expected.

“It lit a spark under me,” he added. “Realizing I could actually do this… I could make something out of this.”

Rather than rushing into major junior immediately, Cover continued his development at St. Andrew’s College, playing on their prep hockey team and earning valuable ice time. He described the decision as an important part of his growth, especially as he continued to refine his game. 

“We won two of the biggest tournaments you could win for prep hockey,” he said. “I feel like it was really good that I stayed there for an extra year just for the development side.”

That development paid off, as Cover earned the chance to suit up for the Knights during the 2024-25 season, appearing in three regular-season games and recording two assists while sharing the ice with a dominant London team.

“Everyone here in the CHL is bigger, better, and faster, and stronger,” he said. “Playing more physical really comes with it.”

Jaxon also credited teammates for helping him handle the ups and downs of a young career — including his former roommate Ben Wilmot, who provided mentorship and perspective.

“He was always there for me,” Cover explained. “If I had a bad game, he would pick me up… and make sure I stay calm-headed.”

Growing up, Cover’s hockey inspiration came from one of the game’s most iconic leaders: Rimouski Océanic (QMJHL) alumnus and three-time Stanley Cup champion Sidney Crosby. 

“I really loved watching Sidney Crosby, which is why I wore number 87,” he shared. “I admire how much of a hard worker he is and how he’d do anything for his team.”

More recently, he’s also enjoyed watching rising NHL talents like Macklin Celebrini, admiring the way the young star plays the game. As the season continues, Cover says his focus remains simple: stay healthy, keep improving, and help his team succeed.

“One of my goals is just to finish off the year healthy and strong,” he said. “ Team success will bring individual success too.”

Cover has already experienced major highlights in his CHL journey — including recording his first career hat trick, a moment he described as a relief after pushing through a scoring slump.

“When you’re in a slump, you feel like you never can score again,” he admitted. “But it was great to see those goals hit the back of the net.”

Even away from the rink, Cover keeps his approach relaxed, describing himself as a “go-with-the-flow” kind of player. His pre-game routine includes a Chipotle meal and time in the hot tub at the Knights’ upgraded facilities. Still, despite the rapid rise from roller hockey in the Caribbean to the bright lights of the OHL, Cover remains grounded in the mindset that brought him this far.

When asked what advice he would offer young players, he kept it simple — and powerful.

“If you have a dream and you really want to achieve it, just keep going,” Cover said. “Keep battling every day… and it’ll come true.”

As part of the CHL’s continued efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in the sport of hockey, the CHL and its Member Leagues (WHL, OHL, and QMJHL) continue working alongside Dean Barnes and his My Hockey Hero podcast to share the stories of Indigenous and racialized players — highlighting the impact that people of colour continue to make at every level of the game.

To view clips from various episodes and guests on the My Hockey Hero podcast, follow the show on Instagram at @myhockeyhero_. To see some of the unique hockey cards from Barnes’ extensive collection, follow @diversityhcokeycards. You can also visit MyHockeyHero.com for more information on Dean Barnes, the podcast, and more.