Jordan Welborn is 16 and a force on a sheet of ice. The Northwood High School sophomore has been promoted to the Shreveport Mudbugs’ varsity hockey team, one year after he was the leading scorer for the JV squad.
Welborn’s mother, Jennifer, says her child has “nothing but hockey in his heart,” but there is a chilling detail to Jordan Welborn’s hockey career: it thrives now partly because of the tragic death of a very good friend.
Welborn is a two-time recipient of a hockey scholarship from the Team Solan Foundation, founded after the death of 13-year-old Zachary Solan Peterson in 2019.
Peterson, a youth hockey goalie, and the forward Welborn “hated each other” on the ice. For one to succeed, the other had to fail.
“It was amazing to see the competitiveness,” Jennifer Welborn said. “Off the ice they were good friends.”
They shared a special bond beyond hockey: they were both adopted from foster care.
Peterson was the second of two teenage boys to take his own life within 72 hours while being held at the Ware Youth Center in Coushatta.
Solan’s parents, Ronnie and Bridget Peterson, longtime fans and supporters of Mudbugs hockey and youth hockey, wasted no time in the wake of Solan’s death.
“It really helped the grieving process,” Ronnie Peterson said. “Quite honestly it can be a distraction at times, which helps.”
A ball hockey tournament was founded in 2019 to raise money for the Foundation. After the third annual event (there was not an event during 2020 due to COVID) held earlier this month, the foundation dished out another round of scholarships. To date, the Team Solan Foundation has distributed more than $25,000 in scholarships to more than 50 players.
“It’s all part of growing the sport,” Peterson said. “You can’t just help out a few people or a few age groups. You have to help a wide range of kids.”
Some scholarships help a family pay high school hockey fees that tally more than $1,400 per player. Some get grants for youth hockey fees, equipment, and even out-of-town hockey camps.
Peterson dreams of sending a player to college through Team Solan.
“Kids from here aren’t terribly likely to play hockey at a super high level,” Peterson said. “But if we could help them play and further their education, it would be great.”
Jordan Welborn may just be the face of Team Solan. He was 2 months old when he attended his first Mudbugs game.
“He learned to walk with a stick in his hand,” Jennifer Welborn said.
At the age of 3, Jordan wanted on the ice.
“We were at a game and the youth hockey teams were playing during an intermission,” Jennifer said. “He said, ‘Go ask them if I need to be on the ice.’ I said, ‘Who am I supposed to ask?’ Jordan said, ‘Go ask Clawed (the team’s mascot)!’”
At the age of 4, Jordan played his first season of youth hockey. His coaches: Bridget Peterson and Charlie Dew (a board member of the Team Solan Foundation).
Nearly a decade later, Jordan Welborn’s heart was ripped out.
“Jordan went through a really dark period after Solan died,” said Jennifer, who has another child who plays sports. “It was really bad. Out of the blue, Bridget called and said Jordan was a recipient of a Team Solan scholarship. It was going to allow Jordan to keep playing hockey. It was overwhelming.”
Jordan has taken advantage of his opportunity – not just by being his team’s leading scorer. He also plays football at Northwood. As a fundraiser, the Falcons sold brick pavers to create a patio area at school.
In addition to “hockey player,” Welborn’s brick includes “SP1.”
Solan Peterson wore No. 1 between the pipes.
On the first day of driver’s education, Welborn carried a Team Solan backpack and placed it in the car.
“He told me, ‘Solan should be doing this with me,’” Jennifer said.
Contact Roy at roylangiii@yahoo.com