The Jacksonville Icemen minor league hockey team announced Dec. 1 that former University of Florida star Tim Tebow, Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Myles Jack and former Jaguars defensive end Reggie Hayward are joining its ownership team.
The Icemen are the ECHL affiliate of the NHL Winnipeg Jets and AHL Manitoba Moose and play home games at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.
“I simply love Jacksonville,” Tebow said in a news release. “It is important to me to invest back into the community that has meant so much to me. I look forward to including and expanding the Icemen’s involvement in our Tim Tebow Foundation and other community initiatives.”
Tebow is now a broadcaster for the SEC Network and a minor league baseball player in the New York Mets organization.
The Icemen also released a list of business leaders and sports professionals that make up its ownership:
• Andy Kaufmann, CEO and managing partner of Zawyer Sports LLC.
• Ali Chahlavi, neurosurgeon at Ascension St. Vincents Jacksonville.
• Daniel Murphy, three-time Major League Baseball All-Star who played for Englewood High School and Jacksonville University.
• Marcus Rowe, resident director/financial adviser at Merrill Lynch.
• Georgia Gianakakos, neurologist at Specialists on Call
• Bob Ohrablo, founding partner and Icemen president.
• Scott Einhorn, Icemen executive vice president.
• David Hodges, chairman of Hodges Management Group LLC.
• Nicholas Rowe, account executive at RJ Young.
• Vimal Reddy, doctor of podiatric medicine at First Coast Foot & Ankle Clinic.
• Mehul Parekh, doctor at Baptist Health.
• Phil Konort, former vice president of finance at American Express Co.
• La Sonjia Jack, executive director of operations at Cox Communications.
• Thomas Doran, owner of Reflections Window and Pressure Washing.
• Saumil Oza, cardiologist at Ascension St. Vincent’s Jacksonville.
• Kevin Anannab, anesthesiologist.
• Megan Hayward, Temporary Assistance Guru president.
“These latest additions to our team will help us extend our reach into the community and will further solidify the Icemen as Jacksonville’s team for many years to come,” Kaufmann said in the release.
Jack is in his fifth NFL season as a linebacker for the Jaguars after being drafted by the team in 2016.
“Growing up, I have been a part of progressive sports programs, but always from a player’s perspective,” Jack said.
“I now have the opportunity to have ownership in a great team here in Jacksonville.”
He said he is “looking forward to bringing my life experiences to the community and partnering with the Iceman players and staff.”
Hayward played nine seasons in the NFL split between the Jaguars and the Denver Broncos.
“After my NFL retirement, my family decided to settle here in Jacksonville,“ Hayward said. “My family is proud to say we are now partners in a team that in three short years has provided thousands of fans with great entertainment and has done so much for our community.”
The home opener for the Icemen is planned for 7 p.m. Dec. 12. The team said it expects to open the season with limited capacity seating.
For more information, visit www.jacksonvilleicemen.com.