Loomis Chaffee's girls varsity hockey team is full of top tier talent. Several seniors will play Division 1 college hockey next year, including 18-year-old Bella Zolezzi

"She's terrific to work with in all aspects," said Loomis coach Liz Leyden. "As a player, constantly looking to learn, grow. On the ice, super hardworking, making things happen offensively. Really pretty talented and gifted, great hands and continually improving her game."

Bella is one of the most impressive team members despite not playing in a single game this season.

On Sept. 21, while playing for her club team, the Mid-Fairfield Stars, Bella got hit and slammed into the boards. Her mom was watching the game on a livestream at her Illinois home.

"I knew by how she went down and that she wasn't getting up that there was something tragically wrong," Kim Zolezzi stated.

"I'm a player who would crawl off the ice instead of laying on the ice," explained Bella.

Except, Bella couldn't move her legs.

"At that point, I was really nervous, but then I remembered my mom was also watching," Bella said. "So, I had to have the nurse behind me call her to let her know I was OK."

"She's like, 'Hey, mom. I know you're watching. I just want you not to worry. I'm fine. I just tweaked my back a little bit.' I said, 'Bella, I'm on my way. I'll be there. I'm going to try to get the first flight out.' And she's like, 'Oh, mom. Don't stress yourself out. I am perfectly fine.' Meanwhile, the manager's texting me to get on a flight immediately," Kim recalled.

Bella was rushed to the hospital and learned she had a severe spinal injury. Doctors told her she'd compressed and burst her C-6 vertebrae at the base of her neck, causing multiple breaks.

"I asked them right away. I was like, 'When can I play hockey again?'" Bella said.

The answer was possibly never. She was told 95% of people with her injury end up paralyzed.

"I just thought, I can't think of not playing just because playing is my place of being calm," Bella explained.

"Hockey has always been like her therapy," added Kim.

Bella started playing at age 4, following in her older brother's footsteps.

"She fell in love with hockey the minute she put on her skates. It was everything," Kim recalled.

Bella came to Loomis in her sophomore year as a forward. Last season, she scored two goals in the New England prep school championship game, which Loomis won for the first time since 1989.

Both of Bella's teams have continued to support her off the ice. When Kim arrived at the ER, she saw her daughter wasn't alone.

"The waiting room was filled with parents and with teammates and coaches," Kim remembered.

Bella had surgery, then spent two weeks in the ICU because of issues with her blood pressure and heart rate. But despite the odds, she regained feeling in her legs.

"When they started working, it was just--I saw God working his plans out for me," Bella told News 12.

"Bella was so positive and so strong. Her strength actually brought more strength to me," Kim explained.

Bella had to relearn to walk. She was released to a rehabilitation facility to continue her recovery. Once again, she defied expectations.

"She kept saying to me, 'Mom, I'm going to come back stronger than I was before. You'll see. And I'm like, 'There's no doubt,' because that is her mindset," said Kim.

"I was supposed to be there six to eight weeks, but I only ended up being there for two weeks just because of how quickly I recovered," Bella stated.

Bella returned to school where she wore a neck-brace for four more weeks. Loomis' season began in November, and Bella was there even though she didn't have the go-ahead to play yet.

"In some ways, the speed in her ability to recover is unbelievable," Leyden told News 12, calling that type of injury terrifying. "But also this is somebody who when she's set her sights on something, just keeps going after it, and that's continued here."

"Everyone's really welcoming still. It still feels like I'm a part of the team, which is amazing," Bella said.

She's at practice daily with her team. While they're on the ice, Bella is off of it working on shooting and stick skills.

"So, I'm also getting my work in. And then for game days, I do whatever I can to help uplift everyone," Bella explained.

Bella is on the bench at every game, keeping stats and cheering on her teammates.

"I'm starting to grasp how small of a percentage I was, and I just feel really thankful," she told News 12.

Bella said it's possible that doctors could clear her to play in March. But she doesn't want to push it and risk not playing for Assumption University next season.

"That's kind of what I look forward to the most, just getting back on the ice, feeling like myself again, and just having fun and being a kid again," Bella said.

After all, winning is about more than just the scoreboard.