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Saint Ignatius JV Hockey Team Involved In Serious Bus Accident In Indiana

By Ross Forman, 11/15/22, 9:15AM CST

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The hockey world and beyond have rallied behind the Saint Ignatius College Prep JV Hockey Team after a horrific accident on Saturday, Nov. 12, when the team was returning to its hotel from dinner in Warsaw, Ind., after competing in a tournament at Culver Military Academy.

A semitruck ran a red light and plowed into their team bus at about 8 p.m., about 50 miles south of South Bend. Sixteen students were hurt and three were taken in “very critical” condition to Fort Wayne Lutheran Hospital, police said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. They since have been upgraded to stable.

Felony DUI charges were pending against the truck driver who police say ran a red light and crashed into the bus, which had 23 students and two coaches.

One of the seriously injured students was discharged from a hospital Sunday evening, school spokeswoman Kristyn Hartman told the Sun-Times on Monday. Two other students were expected to remain hospitalized for three to five more days, according to the Sun-Times. Ten others on the bus were uninjured, police said. All were taken by another school bus to Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital, where officers notified relatives.

One of the students required immediate surgical intervention and one student was ejected from the bus.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Saint Ignatius College Prep Hockey Team, its student-athletes, coaches, families and the entire hockey community dealing with this tragedy,” said AHAI president Kevin Bolger.

Saint Ignatius hockey director and varsity head coach Spencer Montgomery said in a statement from the school, “We are thankful and grateful for the hockey community and looking forward to better days ahead. Please keep our boys in your thoughts.

“I’m very proud and impressed with Mike Rigitano, the JV head coach and Ryan Haraldsen, the JV assistant coach. They were calm, concerned and took action swiftly.”

Montgomery also praised area police and EMS crews: “They were timely, organized and put the health of our boys at the forefront.”

Saint Ignatius athletic director Mike Hurley added, “Our hearts, our thoughts and our prayers remain with our courageous student-athletes, coaches and families of our JV Hockey Team after (Saturday’s) accident. Our care and support extend to our entire school community during this time. We very much appreciate all of the loving messages and well wishes we have received for all of those affected.”

A mass for the team was held at the Church of the Holy Family on Monday afternoon and students have been provided with counseling. Many students were wearing their hockey jerseys at the mass, too.

Most Saint Ignatius hockey players wore their jerseys to school on Monday.

Social media was abuzz with well-wishes and prayers for the team. The Chicago Jets Midget Hockey Team, for instance, tweeted a team photo, kneeling in prayer. The Jets tweeted: The Saint Ignatius JV hockey team and families are on our minds and in our hearts after the serious bus accident this weekend. Please join us in keeping them in your thoughts and prayers.

Before the Lake Zurich/Lakers JV game Sunday night in Barrington, both teams met in a circle at center-ice – with players standing next to opponents in a sign of unity – for a moment of silence for the Saint Ignatius team.

Saint Ignatius is in first-place in the Chicago Catholic Hockey League (CCHL) with a 7-1-1 record, with a 6-game winning streak. Jackson Bossert (4 goals, 6 assists) and Luca Joa (5, 5) are in a 4-way title for the league lead, each with 10 points. The Wolfpack’s next league game is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 19 against Fenwick at Fifth Third Ice Arena.

Chicago Blackhawks:

We send our thoughts and prayers to the Saint Ignatius College Prep’s hockey team, their coaches and their families after the team was involved in a serious bus accident last night. Please join us in keeping them in your thoughts.

Chicago Wolves:

Please join us in keeping the players and coaches of the Saint Ignatius College Prep hockey team in your thoughts following last night’s serious bus accident.

Chicago Steel:

Please join us in keeping the Saint Ignatius College Prep Hockey Team players, staff and bus driver in your thoughts following their bus accident on Saturday.

Rockford IceHogs:

We are sending all our thoughts and prayers to the Saint Ignatius College Prep hockey team, staff and families of all those involved in the serious bus accident last night❤️

Chicago Catholic Hockey League (CCHL)

The CCHL would like to extend its prayers and well wishes for the St. Ignatius Hockey Program especially the JV players who were injured in the accident this past Saturday night.

Hershey Bears

We’re keeping the Saint Ignatius College Prep hockey team in our thoughts, and sending well wishes. The whole hockey community is with you.

Glenview Stars Girls

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Saint Ignatius hockey team, school, players and families during this very difficult time. #HockeyFamily

Team Illinois AAA

The Team Illinois Family is sending our love and support to the Saint Ignatius Hockey Program, their players, their families, the coaches, and the bus driver who were involved in this weekend’s accident. You are and will remain in our thoughts and prayers.

Providence Catholic

Today, join us in prayer for the Saint Ignatius College Prep - Chicago hockey team and all those injured in last night’s crash. We lift the entire St. Ignatius community up in prayer.

GBN Hockey

Our thoughts are with the Saint Ignatius College Prep’s hockey team, their coaches and their families after last night’s bus accident.

Spittin’ Chiclets podcast

Sending our thoughts and prayers to the Saint Ignatius College Prep hockey team

Saint Viator Hockey

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Saint Ignatius hockey team!

Sabre Hockey Club

Sabres thoughts and prayers are with Saint Ignatius and the families impacted by last night’s tragedy.