NEW YORK, N.Y. — After dominating the ice in Maine as a member of the Camden Hills Regional High School ice hockey program, Jack Orne now skates his way around the competition at the collegiate level as a member of the New York University ice hockey team. 

The 2014 graduate of Camden Hills spent one post-graduate year at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire before enrolling at NYU as an economics major. 

Through his first three seasons as a member of the Violets ice hockey team, which plays in the American Club Hockey Association, Orne tallied 16 goals and 13 assists in 75 games. 

Orne noted the culture of the university and the ice hockey team drew him to NYU. 

“I thought that going to school in the city would give me the opportunity to experience things that I wouldn’t be able to at other schools,” he said. “After meeting some players on the team I thought that it would be a good fit for me because everyone got along so well and it was a very tight-knit group of friends.” 

At present, the five-foot-11 defender does not have any post-college plans lined up, though he hopes to start his career in New York and one day hopes to visit Australia, a place he says appears to be fun. 

In the classroom, Orne stated he strives for good grades, though he emphasized he believes it is equally important to completely comprehend the material he is studying. 

On the ice, Orne said he does his best to help guide the team to victory in any way possible by way of scoring goals or blocking shots. 

“The most important thing to me is being a team player,” he said. 

The former Windjammer ice hockey player said that though he has an abundance of fond memories of his time on the ice for Camden Hills, his top memory was defeating York 8-4 in the program’s first playoff victory in 2013. 

Orne credits winning the 2017 American Club Hockey Association Division II national championship as a sophomore with the Violets as his great accomplishment thus far in life. 

Interestingly, Orne only started playing ice hockey after being encouraged by his cousin. 

“I think the speed and creativity in hockey really appealed to me,” he said of his decision to give ice hockey a shot. “Once I got the hang of skating and could keep up with everyone else, I was hooked.”

Orne said his family has been the driving force behind his desire for success on the ice and in the classroom courtesy their support. 

“I want to be able to take advantage of the opportunities [my parents] worked so hard to give me,” he said. 

During his free time in New York, Orne enjoys playing the guitar and spending time with his friends. In the Midcoast, he prefers spending his time with family and friends he does not see as often as he would like.

Orne advises those interested in leaving the Midcoast to pursue collegiate ice hockey to be a hard worker and the best advocate for oneself. 

“Track down coaches, show them you’re interested in their programs, send videos of your games,” he said. “There are a lot of players out there looking to fill a limited number of spots on college teams so you really have to make yourself standout, especially coming from a place like the Midcoast where it is not as easy for coaches to see you play.”

Reach George Harvey and the sports department at: sports@penbaypilot.com.