Losing a member of a community is always difficult. But it’s the response to these hard times that defines the community as a whole. 

On Saturday November 16, the Maine hockey community lost a member. Brewer High School senior Jordan Parkhurst died in a car accident that night, instantly re-shaping a young season so full of promise. The outpourings of support were immediate, with people streaming onto the Brewer Youth Hockey Facebook page to donate money to help Parkhurst’s family, raising nearly $4,000 at the point of publication. 

The support spread to The County, where the Presque Isle Wildcat ice hockey team sought to honor Parkhurst in the wake of his passing. “Unfortunately, I’ve seen situations like this probably three other times, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen community outpouring like I have this one,” said Presque Isle head coach Carl Flynn. The Wildcats, playing at the inaugural pre-season tournament in the newly built Piscataquis County Ice Arena, sported strips of orange tape along the top of their helmets in a show of support. 

“It was partly my idea, and then one of the players suggested it as well,” said Flynn. “I think I’d have to give the credit, although I’m not 100%, to our captain [Connor Demerchant],” Flynn said, referring to the tape. 

Following the tournament in Dover-Foxcroft, the team faced another three game slate at Sawyer Arena in Bangor, where they accompanied the helmet tape by taping the blades of their sticks orange instead of the usual white or black. “I thought about it initially, and then me and Gage [Letourneau ’21] came up with the idea, and we decided to tape our sticks and helmets orange,” said Demerchant ’20. 

These gestures did not go unnoticed by the Brewer community. During the first game of the PCIA tournament, Flynn received a thank you text from the Brewer coach. “He even texted me Saturday morning when we were on the bench, playing against Houlton because he had gotten a picture from someone in the stands of us wearing orange stripes on our helmets,” Flynn said. 

As President and Treasurer of the league respectively, the two coaches have grown to be very close friends. “He called me within an hour of the accident happening, and he and I have texted back and forth pretty much every day since,” said Flynn. “We have talked a lot, and the Hampden coach has been involved in those conversations as well.”

It’s a tragic turn of events that has caused team members to reflect. “You know, I grew up watching Brewer and Presque Isle play against each other, and now, knowing that it was one of the kids I’ve played against before, it’s just sad,” said Demerchant.

The Wildcats will sport stickers with Parkhurst’s number 11 and his name running down the side on the back of their helmets for the remainder of the season.

Anchor reporter Cameron Levasseur is a third year defenseman for the Wildcat ice hockey team.