LEWISTON, Maine — As people across Maine mourn the lives of the 18 people killed in the mass shootings in late October, others are praying that their loved ones who were shot and are still in the hospital will survive.
Central Maine Medical Center staff said Wednesday that of the three remaining victims in the hospital, one was upgraded and is no longer in critical condition, bringing that total Wednesday to one person listed in critical condition. Staff only said the other two were "stable."
One of those three remaining patients is 24-year-old Kyle Secor. He is the scorekeeper, and former player, for the Maine Nordiques, a Tier II junior hockey team in the North American Hockey League's East Division.
Secor was playing in a cornhole tournament at Schemengee's Bar and Grill when the shooter opened fire. His family said he was hit multiple times in the abdomen, groin and legs. They say he is now breathing on his own and aware of his surroundings, as well as what happened.
His teammates are praying for his recovery.
"He has so much energy and passion and he's always smiling," said Associate Head Coach Ryan Shelley. "And he's a guy who's really brightened up everybody's day."
Nick Withee, the team's director of media and community operations, said Secor was a fan favorite.
"He had this gritty grind, his style of play that the fans were used to seeing from the old Lewiston maniacs here," Withee said. "He blended in beautifully and the fans loved his game."
Withee said he has never played hockey and does not know how to skate, but simply learned the sport by watching every Nordiques game since 2015 and playing hockey video games. He is from Turner and graduated from the University of Maine in 2019.
"[Lewiston] is a 10-minute drive from my house, so this really is my backyard," Withee said. "Immediately, my heart sank. I was like, 'oh no.'"
When state leaders lifted the shelter-in-place order, Withee and the Nordiques traveled to Philadelphia to play their first games since the shootings, which were pushed back.
"Before we left, I got the bus PA mic. I told the players, look around at this community as we drive through the streets of Lewiston-Auburn," Withee said. "Really think about what these fans mean to you, and take the community on [your] backs."
Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Rebels started out rough. The Nordiques fell behind 3-0 in the first period, but scored their first goal before intermission. Maine tied the game in the second period and scored the go-ahead goal, as well as an empty-netter in the third period, for five unanswered goals in a comeback win.
"They really knew they were playing for something more than a hockey game," Shelley said. "A little bit of hope, a little bit of joy to see their team win."
"Sure we were down, but we came back stronger," Withee said.
Secor's jersey was hanging nearby on the bus and on the boards behind the bench. Defenseman Seth Murch said he tapped it every time before heading out on the ice. Murch was wearing 14 this season, but switched to 23 after the shootings.
"While he's recovering and through this process, we want him to be the only number 14 out there," Murch said. "It's just little things that I think we talk about every day. The little things matter. And that's one little thing that I think can help him in the process of recovery."
It's a small gesture that packs a lot of meaning.
"It's a way to say he's still here," Shelley said. "He's here in our minds all the time. That jersey represents a lot of hope and courage."
Secor's teammates said he embodies courage. He's a Mainer by action, even if not by birth.
"We know it's going to be hard, but we are going to do it as one," Withee said.
Thursday night, the Nordiques will play their first home game at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée since the shootings. Withee said it is the chance for the community to come together in a way other than a vigil. Admission is free.
The team is inviting fans to write messages in sidewalk chalk before the game and plans to have comfort dogs and a pre-game ceremony.
The Nordiques' opponent, the New Hampshire Mountain Kings, is coached by Cam Robichaud, an Auburn native who played at the University of New England. He later played and coached for the Nordiques.