Jack Garcia, a forward for the Renegades Hockey Club in uniform No. 23, is ready for the season. He is a fast, agile player, a junior at Willowbrook High School who skates for the co-op team in the IHSHL North-Central Division.

He played for the JV team last season and regardless of which Renegades team he skates for this winter, he is ready, committed to his personal goals for the 2024-24 campaign: More goals, more ice time and simply improve as much as possible.

Hockey is Garcia’s reprieve from personal battles.

He was diagnosed with stage 5 chronic kidney disease in November 2017. After receiving a kidney from his mother in October 2018, he was diagnosed with a type of cancer that is formed after a kidney transplant, called PTLD. After going through a round of chemotherapy, he was declared cancer-free in January 2020.

But, in July 2022, it was discovered that his kidney had begun to fail yet again, and he needed another transplant. “I was luckily donated a kidney by an anonymous donor in February 2023 and have been living my best and healthiest life ever since,” said Garcia, who was born with an abnormality that doctors did not see when he was born that caused his kidneys to fail.”

Garcia, who lives in Villa Park, said his emotions were a mix of anger and sadness when he heard the diagnosis years ago, but also relieved that doctors caught it when they did.

“Due to my health, I was in and out of hospitals constantly from the age of 9 to 15,” Garcia said. “I went through multiple rounds of dialysis which depleted much of my energy during that time, which made it basically impossible to walk, let alone skate.

“When I finally returned to the ice in April 2023, that was my first time skating in full (equipment) since I was 9 years old.”

With the 2024-25 season lingering, Garcia said he now is “at my peak health.”

“Just being able to skate is practically a miracle compared to where I was years ago,” he said. “The difference between me now and me even a year ago is night and day.”

Garcia said he lost all his previous hockey and skating ability, as well as energy and stamina. “Not stepping on the ice for nearly six years really takes a toll,” Garcia said.

Doctors have told Garcia that he eventually will need another kidney transplant, just depending on how he treats his current kidney.

Hockey was Garcia’s drive during his medical woes. “It gave me something to look forward to,” he said. “(Hockey) gave me a reason to keep fighting.

“Every day that I was in the hospital, in immense pain trying to recover from my transplant, all I had in my head was the idea that it would be worth it because I'll be able to play hockey,” Garcia said. “The Renegades gave me a shot to prove myself and I’ll always be thankful for (that). Even though I’m not the best player on my team, I’ll always be thankful for the Renegades staff and my teammates for accepting me.

“I wouldn’t have gotten the inspiration to play hockey again if it weren’t for the countless hours of training videos and NHL highlights that I watched on YouTube in the hospital. Once I did make it back on the ice, my greatest teacher prior to joining the Renegades was the Internet, helping me relearn the basics.”

Garcia offered praise all around, including his parents, younger brother (Quentin), extended family and teammates. “My coaches, doctors and everybody else who has ever supported me in the past,” he added.

Garcia said the roller-coaster rides he’s traveled over the past seven-plus years are hard to describe because of how much he’s endured, much of which he’s chosen to forget.

“It has been a long journey, and I am more motivated than ever to keep going,” he said. “I still take medicine daily to suppress my immune system from rejecting the kidney; I still have to get my blood drawn every month to make sure my body is functioning well, and I still have to make the commute downtown to the hospital to get checked by my doctors. Other than that, it is a lot less treatment than what it was before.”

• To support Jack Garcia, visit his GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/5ju53-jacks-medical-fund.

Slapshots With … Renegades Forward Jack Garcia

Off The Ice: He enjoys playing video games, doing graphic design, and more.

Long-term Career Goal: “If I can’t progress to the next level in hockey, I plan on doing something with graphic design.”

Influences: “My dad, who I work with almost every single day, trying to improve and become the best player I can be.”

Favorite NHL Team: Chicago Blackhawks

Favorite NHL Player: Patrick Kane

Favorite Sports-themed Movie: Moneyball

Favorite TV Show: Better Call Saul

Favorite Pre-game Meal: Chicken and rice

Favorite app: Instagram

Celebrity You’d Like To Meet: Kendrick Lamar

Best Hockey Tip: “Keep your head up.” – My Dad

Best High School Uniform (other than the Renegades): York’s “Dukes” jersey