Falcons Unveil Berklee Adamovich Memorial Jerseys

Berklee Rae Adamovich grew up loving art and math, playing basketball and soccer, and attending Eagle River Falcons hockey games.

Sadly, Berklee died Dec. 12, 2021, at the age of 10 following a one-year battle with NUT carcinoma cancer, a rare and very aggressive form of cancer.

During Berklee’s fight against the rare disease, #BerkleeStrong, a Facebook page, was developed by family friends so the Eagle River community could help support her and her family, including parents Jared Adamovich and Lindsey Riedel, both of Eagle River.

That community support was extended again Saturday night, as the Eagle River Falcons men’s hockey team unveiled special jerseys that were designed by Berklee prior to her passing.

Jared Adamovich addressed the spectators in the packed Dome minutes before the game against the DePere Deacons on pond hockey tournament weekend — the Falcons’ biggest game of the year.

“She was so excited and loved the idea of these tough hockey players wearing pink jerseys with unicorns and rainbows on them,” said Jared Adamovich over the public address system as the crowd roared with their approval. “They turned out perfectly, exactly how she drew them on paper and was helped by her Aunt Sara (Adamovich) to design them on the computer.

“Our whole family just wants to thank the community and the Falcons team for doing this for us and letting her name live on,” said Jared Adamovich, who then asked for a moment of silence in remembrance of Berklee.

Between periods of the hockey game, Jared Adamovich explained that Bobby McDonald, the player/coach of the Falcons, called him several months ago with the idea for Berklee to design a special Falcons’ jersey to get her mind off of her serious health issues and give her a little art project — after all, she really enjoyed and excelled in her art classes at the Eagle River Elementary School. McDonald’s plan was to raffle off the special jerseys as a fundraiser for Berklee and her family.

“It was fun and raised a little money for her. The idea of letting her design a jersey for the Falcons hockey team for their biggest game of the year really got her excited,” said her father.

Jared Adamovich said his daughter enjoyed Falcons hockey games at the historic Eagle River Dome.

“She loved coming to the Falcons games with me. She was coming since she was a toddler. We rarely missed a game. I started bringing her here when she was really young and she would only make it for one period and I would drive her to her grandparents’ house. The next year she would make it two periods until she got old enough to stay a whole game. She really looked forward to coming to the games,” he said.

Now that the original Berklee jerseys have been unveiled and raffled following Saturday’s game, a 14-4 Falcons’ victory, McDonald said community members can purchase additional jerseys by visiting mensleaguesweaters.com and searching “Berklee Strong hockey jersey.” [direct link]

“Any money raised will be donated back to Berklee’s fund and family,” said McDonald. “The rink was always a special place for the family, and we wanted to do our part.”

Jared Adamovich, who said the money raised through the raffle and sale of the jerseys will likely be donated back to the Eagle River Recreation Association, stated the night was special for Berklee’s family and friends.

“The feeling was amazing. Her mom and I and our family are mostly all here tonight,” he said.” “This whole community has been beyond wonderful. Words can’t even describe the love and the reaching out of this town and what they have done to help us in every way — from bringing us meals to financially supporting us to just the cards and gifts they have given us and Berklee. It has put a smile on all of our faces at one time or another.”

The community really got behind #BerkleeStrong, noted Jared Adamovich, including signs of support at area businesses.

“I looked at those signs almost every day. Every day I was in town. There wasn’t one I didn’t know about and look at. I would smile and think of her,” said Jared Adamovich.

“We are just so grateful for the community that we live in, this small town that we live in. I was born and raised here,” he said. “My grandfather came here 90-some years ago and our family is still here. We have deep roots in this town and I am absolutely grateful for where we are from.”


– story and photo courtesy of Gary Ridderbusch, News Correspondent for Vilas County News Review