Jaxon Cover: From the Cayman Islands to Senators’ Prospect

Sometimes, the most interesting hockey stories begin far from an NHL rink. In Jaxon Cover’s case, the journey began in the Cayman Islands, where he grew up playing inline hockey before moving to Canada and making the transition to the ice. Now, Cover is an Ottawa Senators prospect, playing for the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. And he’s starting to make some noise.

Cover scored twice in London’s 7-1 win over Erie on Saturday, giving him five points over his last two games. Through six games this season, the 6-foot-2 winger has four goals and three assists, along with 21 shots on net. Not a bad start for a young player still working to establish himself.

Cover Took a Different Route to Professional Hockey.

The Senators selected Cover 32nd overall in the 2026 NHL Draft. He had already put together a solid season with London in 2025-26, recording 20 goals and 32 assists for 52 points in 67 games. Those are respectable numbers, and his recent scoring suggests he may be finding another gear. But I’m always a little cautious about getting carried away with a hot streak. Six games can tell us something about how a player is starting the season. They can’t tell us everything about what he’ll become.

What makes Cover particularly interesting is the road he took to get here. Growing up in the Cayman Islands and playing inline hockey isn't the usual route to becoming an NHL prospect. Most young players who reach this level have spent years on the ice, moving through familiar development programs and competing in traditional hockey communities.

Cover's path was different. At some point, he had to adjust from wheels to skates, from inline hockey to the demands of the ice game, and then work his way into a competitive junior program. That takes some adapting.

The Next Step Is the Interesting Part for Cover.

London has also experimented with Cover at centre, although he's primarily a winger. That versatility could become useful as he develops, but it's still a work in progress. For now, the Senators have reason to be encouraged by the goals, the shots and the recent production. Plenty of development remains, and nobody should project an NHL career based on a couple of good games.

Still, I like stories like this. Hockey has a way of taking people along paths nobody would have predicted when they were younger. Cover has travelled a long way to get this opportunity. His two-goal night is another small step along that journey, and it'll be interesting to see where it takes him.