At least half of the roster for the St. Charles Chill has come down with the norovirus along with members of the front office and gameday staff.
The team got sick after a charity bowling event at Harvest Lanes in St. Charles (4101 North St Peters Parkway) Monday night. Multiple people attending a party last Saturday at the same bowling alley also got sick as well as many people at their Cave Springs Lanes location off Mexico Road.
The St. Charles Health Department suspects they all have the norovirus. The symptoms include nausea, fever, and vomitting. It’s highly contagious and most often connected to illness on cruise ships, schools, and nursing homes.
The hockey team isn’t practicing, and hope they are better before the next game.
“We were pressed for players,” said Bart Hull, Vice President of Business Development for the club. “We suited up our equipment manager who’s 48 years old. He’d played a lot when he was younger and was the Blues’ practice goalie years ago but it’s been a while since he’d played competitively.”
“The health department came back in to see what we’ve done we look good we’ve done everything we can possibly do to kill a bug,” said Terry Rollins.
“I’m such a wimp because I had to call it quits in the middle of a broadcast last night and then I find out three guys are toughing through it in the middle of the hockey game, you know what I mean,” said Justin Troop, manager of communications for the St. Charles Chill.
“We’ve got a huge weekend coming up with two games,” Hull said. “[We’ve] got the Blues alumni playing and Bobby Hull here Saturday night.”
Contact the health department if you think you might be infected. The simple solution of handwashing is the best way to prevent the spread.
If you have the bug, the health department says stay home from work or school for a couple days.
