The Jamaica senior men’s team is set to skate off on the ice on Thursday, May 7 in Chicago, in its bid to regain the Challenger Series Ice Hockey trophy which was won in 2024, the inaugural year.

The team is down to play three matches in a round-robin tournament which also involves Puerto Rico and Lebanon.

Jamaica will open their campaign against Greece, the defending champions, followed by Puerto Rico on May 8, and then rounding off the competition with their final match against Lebanon on May 9.

Points earned in the Chicago leg of the Challenger Series will go towards the second leg to be played in Montreal between July 8 and 12. The Jamaica contingent, which will be captained by highly experienced forward Taos Jordan, comprises 18 players and six officials.

The team will be accompanied by President Dr Don Anderson, who headed five consecutive Olympic Games teams for Jamaica.

Jamaica is likely to be without its star player Maleek McGowan as he recently signed a professional contract to compete in the American Hockey League, after completing an outstanding season with Kingston Frontenacs in the Ontario Hockey League.

In the 2025-2026 season, McGowan played 62 games, scored 14 goals and had 22 assists. He ended with 36 points in the season, during which he was named man of the match on several occasions.

The Jamaica team is set to arrive in Chicago on May 6.