Ryder Cali and Jaxon Cover, two forwards from the Cayman Islands, arrived in Western New York last week to take part in the NHL’s scouting combine, a rite of passage that brings together the world’s most promising prospects.
Cali’s earliest memories involve lacing up skates at just two years old, a habit he carried across the Atlantic when his family relocated to Canada at age seven. His mother, Fiona McLeod, a former college and professional player in Switzerland, introduced him to the rigors of elite hockey.
Cover, by contrast, honed his game on the streets and rinks of the Caribbean, mastering roller hockey before making the switch to ice. He later attended St. Andrew’s College in Aurora, Ontario, where he competed in the Ontario Hockey League and began to attract attention from scouts.
Unconventional Roots, Shared Ambitions
Both players posted standout numbers in the combine’s fitness battery, posting times and strength metrics that placed them above many of their more geographically familiar peers. Analysts now project each to be selected in the late first round or early second round of the upcoming NHL draft.
Cali has said he intends to study psychology at Providence College, hoping to explore how the brain influences performance on the ice. Cover, meanwhile, plans to enroll at Penn State University to pursue a law degree, with an eye toward a corporate law career after his playing days end. Their academic ambitions reflect a broader desire to serve as role models for youngsters who might otherwise see hockey as an unattainable dream.
Beyond personal goals, the two share a mission to broaden the sport’s reach. By documenting their journeys, they hope to encourage players in places like the Cayman Islands, Switzerland, and other non‑traditional markets to believe that a path to the NHL is possible.