JAMAICA DEFEATS COLOMBIA, WINS ICE HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP, CREATES HISTORY

The Jamaica national ice hockey team created History yesterday. The Island of Jamaica from the warm, tropical Caribbean won an international ice hockey tournament, yes I said it (or typed it) , the Jamaican Ice Boyz are the champions of an Ice Hockey competition staged in the US. This team of Jamaican born and Jamaican descent players made the country proud.

Jamaican defeated Colombia in a nail biter of a game. The nail biter aspect of this was surprising since Jamaica had defeated Colombia earlier in the competition and had lost 5-0. Maybe the Colombian team had taken Jamaica lightly the first time out, maybe Colombia had adjusted brilliantly to the Jamaican team, or maybe the Jamaican team had finally gotten a little tired and banged up after a dominant run that led up to the final (5-0 against Colombia, 8-4 over Argentina, 7-0 over Brazil & 6-0 Over Mexico), a final that was in the 1st ever Ice Hockey competition that Jamaica has entered,

In the tight game Jamaica went up 2-0 early. The Jamaicans in the building were loud and in joyous spirits, grooving to hits from Sean Paul & Damian & Stephen Marley. However unlike the previous encounter Colombia was right there with the Boyz from the island of wood & water. The Colombians matched the Jamaicans in speed, which up to this point had not been done by any team, including the Colombians.

Although the Colombians were matching us in tactics, speed and execution, the 2-0 lead gave comfort, to what was both the largest crowd for the whole tournament and the largest number of Jamaicans and Jamaican supporters who came out during the competition.

Then, Jamaica had a major setback, one of their best players Carton Thorton had gotten hurt, had to be taken off and did not return. Players who had been injured earlier in the tournament now had to step up. Strong players like Jaden Lindo now had to dig deep.

Colombia’s best player Daniel Echeverri played the entire 48 minutes, their goalie became almost impassable after the 2 goals scored. Then it happened in the 3rd period, Colombia scored. The Colombia fans went wild. They scored again! 2-2.

That score would hold all the way until regulation time ended, albeit with many close calls for both sides. This set up the penalties, and after a tense period, Jamaica’s goalie saved enough and offense scored enough for Jamaica to win 3-2. History had been made.

The crowd went wild, the team went wild, everybody jumped on the ice. Coaches CJ Bollers & Darwin Murray (whose brilliant coaching led the way) beamed with pride. Then the national anthem played and everyone who was there from and for Jamaica stood at attention. The Ice Boyz showed unadulterated joy, along with classy humility to all, throughout the whole weekend they showed respect to teams, fans and organizers.

Jamaica’s Counsel General, Oliver Mair celebrated along with team and fans and said ” We are sooo proud of our Jamaican Hockey team and congratulate them on this historic victory! We are a people capable of doing anything we put our minds towards accomplishing.” AKA we little but we tallawah.”

This is a strong statement for Jamaica to be a viable participant of the Ice Hockey world. If Jamaica can raise the millions necessary to have an ice rink in Jamaica they could be eligible to compete in the Winter Olympics (Ice Runnings anyone?).

On the 8th of September Jamaica created history by hoisting the LATAM 2019 trophy in Ice Hockey at the Florida Panthers Ice Den in South Florida.

– Jason Walker