From Caribbean Roots to Draft Rankings
Jaxon Cover, an 18‑year‑old from Grand Cayman, is emerging as one of the most talked‑about names in the upcoming NHL draft. Born in Miami before his family settled on the Cayman Islands, he began skating on roller blades at age three and quickly rose through local competition.
His talent caught the eye of scouts during a summer camp in Toronto when he was eight, where he first tried ice hockey. The following year he moved to Canada to attend St. Andrew’s College, a private school north of Toronto, a move that gave him the infrastructure to develop his game on the ice.
Under the guidance of coach David Manning, Cover’s elusiveness, skill in tight spaces and puck control stood out. Manning noted that Cover’s rapid progress was fueled by extra work during the pandemic, turning free time into a deliberate training regimen.
Last season he led his OHL team with 20 goals and finished second with 52 points in 67 games, earning MVP honors at the 2016 North American roller hockey championships. The performance propelled him to 29th overall on NHL Central Scouting’s list of North American skaters, and he is now projected as a second‑ or third‑round pick.
Cover has interviewed with 25 of the NHL’s 32 teams, and scouts such as Dan Marr from NHL Central Scouting have taken notice of his development. He plans to play for the London Knights this season while honoring a commitment to join Penn State’s program in two years.