Injured Humboldt Broncos defenceman Ryan Straschnitzki, who lost the use of his legs in April when the bus carrying his hockey team and a semi-truck collided in rural Saskatchewan, has returned to the ice for the first time.
Just weeks after he was discharged from the Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, where he received specialized spinal treatment, the 19-year-old hit the ice two weeks ago to play sledge hockey.
And while he may be relearning a sport that he has played for virtually his entire life, Straschnitzki told CTV Calgary he was happy to be back.
âWhen youâre on the ice, you have nothing to worry about,â he said. âItâs pretty exciting learning a new way to play the game and Iâm enjoying it.â
Straschnitzki was paralyzed from the chest down when a bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos junior ice hockey team and a semi-trailer collided in Saskatchewan Apr. 6, killing 16 people and injuring 13 others.
While he has only been on the sled three times, Straschnitzki has ambitious goalsâto be one of the top sledge hockey players in Canada and to one day even make the national team.
He says âbalancingâ is the most difficult part of the sport.
âThe sled and the way you move is a lot different,â Straschnitzki told CTV Calgary. âThatâs something I have to work on.â
Coach Chris Cederstrand, who lost a leg in a workplace accident in 2012, said âthe skyâs the limitâ for Straschnitzki in sledge hockey.
âHe came out and he picked it up amazingly quickly,â Cederstrand told CTV Calgary. âHeâs a kid willing to put in the time and the effort.â
Straschnitzki said heâs learned more from Cederstrand than just how to master the sport.
âHeâs awesome,â Straschnitzki told CTV Calgary. âHe went through so much with his accident and heâs taught me to be strong and itâs not the end of the line.â
With a report from CTV Calgaryâs Brenna Rose
Day 1 of try outs. First time on ice since April 5. BIGGEST SMILE momma and I have ever seen. Thanks Chris Cederstrand and Okotoks Rink for this. Yes Corban Knight (Flyers) and Erika and I were out there also. It is NOT easy.
â Strazsr (@strazsr)