Last week, Jonathan Brown was supposed to play hockey in the Maccabiah Games in Israel, the world’s largest Jewish athletic competition. However, it was postponed until 2026 because of security concerns due to the Gaza War and the extension of the national emergency.
Brown was still able to play hockey last week, though, as he participated in New York Islanders' Development Camp on Long Island. The Maccabiah Games will be eventually be another amazing experience for the defenseman, but the experience with the Islanders is something he will always remember.
“It was incredible,” said Brown. “A huge thank you to the Islanders organization for inviting me. Being around such great players and such great coaches…I’ve learned a lot. I tried to soak everything in. A lot of firsts for me and it was such a great experience and such a good time, and memories I’ll have for a long, long time.”
Brown was born in London and then moved with his parents to Scarsdale when he was six years old. He played four years of prep school hockey in the United States Hockey League for Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Faribault, Minnesota, and last season, in 86 games over multiple competitions, Brown totaled 4 goals and 28 assists. The season before, Brown had 5 goals and 21 assists, and in 2021-22, he had 4 goals and 20 assists.
Somewhere down the road, he could be an NHL player.
“He’s got a chance,” said Shattuck-St. Mary’s Boys Prep Head Coach Tom Ward. “He’s an intelligent young man. He made a lot of strides this year. He’s a wonderful kid. He comes to the rink with a smile on his face. He comes from a great family. We loved having him here.”
The scouting report on Brown around the hockey world is very impressive.
According to Elite Prospects, “Brown doesn’t just defend—he punishes. He finishes checks with intent, roughs up opponents on the perimeter and dominates net-front battle with physical play. He’s an effective stick disruptor and screen-breaker and he’s shown glimpses of transitional playmaking connecting across multiple zones.”
This year, Brown was ranked number 177 among North American Skaters for the NHL Draft, but was not selected. He’ll play junior hockey this coming season for the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League, and is committed to play college hockey at Yale.
After a small taste with the Islanders, Brown hopes to be in the NHL one day, but he has some business to take care of before that.
“Hopefully, down the road, I’ll have a chance to play in the NHL, because that’s my dream,” said the 6-foot-2, 201-pound Brown. “I’m really excited. (Windsor is) a great organization with great fans and a great arena in a great league. I’m really looking forward to it. I’ll probably play in Windsor for two years and then I’ll head to Yale. I’m really excited for the future with two great organizations and two great teams.”
While hockey is a major focus for Brown, he is extremely proud of his Jewish heritage.
Growing up, he went to synagogue every weekend with his family and, just like his brothers, had a Bar Mitzvah when he was 13 years old.
“It’s been a huge part of my life,” said Brown.
His parents sacrificed a lot so that he and his brothers could live a good life and understand what it means to be Jewish. For Jonathan, those sacrifices also allowed him to be able to play hockey.
“My parents…they’re everything,” said Brown. “Just instilling those values in us that they learned from their parents.”
It was poetic that Brown spent a good portion of last week on Long Island, an area with a tremendous Jewish population. There were huge crowds on hand for practice every day and there was a sellout for the Blue vs White prospect game last Wednesday night.
It's fair to think that at each session there was, at least, a minyan (the quorum of ten Jewish adults required for certain religious obligations) of Islanders fans on hand watching him on the ice.
“Long Island is such a great place,” said Brown. “There are so many Jewish people around here and so many great communities. It makes me really proud to be able to represent the Jewish people in hockey. There are some Jewish hockey players but it’s definitely a growing thing and I’m very proud to be a part of that.”
There are a number of Jewish hockey players in the NHL, including Adam Fox of the Rangers, Jack and Luke Hughes of the Devils along with their brother Quinn of the Canucks, Zach Hyman of the Oilers, and Devon Levi of the Canucks. The game is also growing in Israel with the Israel Elite Hockey League, who brought two teams, the Jerusalem Capitals and HC Tel Aviv, to the United States for a game at UBS Arena back in March.
Brown is a citizen of the United States, as well as England, where he was born, and France; his mother is from France and his father is originally from Detroit, just across the border from where Jonathan will play junior hockey - so he'll have a chance to be close to family. His father was a huge hockey fan growing up, so he passed that love down to him and his brothers.
“He got us into it and I’m so grateful he did,” said Brown.
Growing up in Scarsdale, one would think that Jonathan became an Islanders, Rangers or Devils fan, but what he did was follow his father’s heart and passion.
“Actually, I grew up a Red Wings fan,” said Brown. “I’ve always kind of been neutral for New York teams.”
After last week, maybe that neutrality will shift towards the Islanders, who just may be keeping their eye on Brown as he develops in juniors and possibly college hockey over the next few years.
In the meantime, Brown will spend the rest of his summer preparing for the 2025-26 season, playing a couple of other sports and hanging out with his family.
“A lot of skating and a lot of working out just getting ready for the season,” said Brown. “I play golf too so I’ll be golfing and playing tennis. I don’t get to see (my brothers) much anymore so being home with them is amazing, and spending time with my family.”
These are good times for Brown, lots of “Nachas” as we say in the Jewish religion - meaning pride and joy that comes from accomplishments. He had the great opportunity to showcase his skills last week at Islanders development camp, and is ready to embark on the start of his junior hockey career with Windsor this fall.
And this time next year, Jonathan Brown intends on checking off that box of playing at the Maccabiah Games, with and against many other talented Jewish hockey players.
“I plan on going next year,” said Brown.
Hopefully he gets that opportunity.