St. Ignatius JV hockey team hosts first home game since November bus crash
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The St. Ignatius hockey team was back in action with a game at Fifth Third Arena Sunday. It's the first time the team has played a home game after the bus carrying their players was hit by a semi truck in November, seriously injuring several of the athletes.
And it was a win for the Wolfpack.
The captain of the team said they put in a lot of work to get to Sunday night, and the three players who were seriously injured are their motivation and inspiration. Two of those players were there on the sidelines. The third was recovering at home.
"Those players are now out of line up in their season is over have been the driving motivation," said Patrol Captain Brad Kellar with the Warsaw Police Department.
In November while the team was on location and driving in Warsaw, Indiana, their bus was just entering an intersection when the semi clipped the back of it -- spinning it 180 degrees.
Twenty-three student athletes from the junior varsity boy's hockey team and two coaches were on the bus. The hockey players were between 14 and 17 years old.
One was ejected.
Victor Santos, 58, from Brooklyn, New York City, was charged with 26 counts each of criminal recklessness and causing serious bodily injury while operating a vehicle. Both are felonies.
Police said he failed a breath test.
Player Alex Cook's mom described the crash.
"He had a seizure. The coach found him on the bus," she said.
She could not be prouder. She also talked about cards from students, fans and well wishers to the players lining the arena.
"I mean it takes a lot it's so easy to say you're thinking about someone or send a text but to take the time and do it all these people have done I mean I can't it's constant chills," she said.
The puck drop to start the game featured some of the first responders who were there the day of the crash.
"Most of us did never really get to say thank you to them," said team captain Lucas Joa. "So being able to see them here will be able to say thank you again it's gonna be really great."
Kellar is part of the team that responded that day in Warsaw, Indiana.
"We do this job because we enjoy to do it. A lot of times it's thankless and that's OK, but opportunities like this really remind you of the foundation of why you do what you do."
"This whole thing has just brought us really close together," said Lucas. "We come and talk to each other a lot. We have a group at school, that with counselors and everything, help us get through everything. We text each other a lot, make sure everyone's OK."
This game was not just a homecoming. It was a 5-0 win for the Wolfpack at home.
The team had to reschedule four games after the crash.
Playoffs begin next month.
