St. Louis:
It was a special night for DAWG Nation as the St. Louis Chapter made its first check presentation to hockey dad and player, Chad Bomerschein. Chad, who is recovering from a TBI, had his deductible fully covered thanks to the generosity of the new St. Louis chapter. A follow-up check was also presented at the 2nd annual Jonny O’s 3v3 Affton Bash in early 2022.
A LOVE OF HOCKEY THROUGH THE BLUES
Chad Bomerschein didn’t grow up playing hockey, but he discovered a love for the sport while watching the St. Louis Blues. That passion grew when he signed his sons up for skating lessons about eight years ago. After spending time watching from the sidelines, he decided to lace up skates himself to help the little ones stand and push buckets on the ice. His greatest joy comes from seeing the kids light up as they start skating on their own without the buckets.
COACH BOMER
As the kids grew, he jumped in to help on the ice with his younger son’s 6U team as an assistant coach. He also spent multiple seasons helping with his older son in 10U and later with his younger son in 10U again. By the 2021-2022 season, Chad decided his coaching days were over. His boys had surpassed his skills, and he wanted to watch their progress from the sidelines. Coaching sparked something in Chad, though, and he felt the urge to give it a try himself. He started with roller hockey, then quickly transitioned to ice hockey where he fell in love with the game.
A TERRIBLE MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT
In late September, just after the season began, Chad was in a terrible motorcycle accident that changed his life forever. He suffered a traumatic brain injury, along with fractures to his skull, back, neck, ribs, and several other injuries. He still has a few more surgeries ahead to repair his skull and shoulder.
ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY
Chad has been making great strides in his recovery, even getting back to attending his boys’ hockey practices and games. His dream is to play hockey again, and he’s confident it will happen. In 2022, DAWG Nation showed their support for the Bomerscheins with a $2,000 check to help cover the annual deductible, but there’s still a long journey ahead. By 2025, Chad has become a proud supporter of the foundation, volunteering regularly whenever he can.
