Bronco home in time for birthday
Hockey player paralyzed in crash flown to Alberta to begin rehabilitation
CALGARY— After two weeks in a Saskatoon hospital, Ryan Straschnitzki is back in Alberta just in time to celebrate his 19th birthday with friends and family by his side.
The Humboldt Broncos player from Airdrie, Alta. was paralyzed from the chest down when a truck collided with the bus carrying the junior hockey team to a playoff game against the Nipawin Hawks in northeastern Saskatchewan on April 6.
Sixteen people were killed and 13 others were injured in the crash, which is still being investigated.
On Thursday, Ryan flew from Saskatoon — with his mom, Michelle, by his side — to Calgary, where he will begin a long rehabilitation journey at the Foothills Medical Centre hospital.
“He’s doing pretty good … but I’d say it’s going to be an uphill battle — he’s still, every day, trying to make his feet move,” said Tom Straschnitzki, Ryan’s father. “We tell him, ‘Well, keep doing it, and one day maybe they will.’ ”
Tom said he plans to drive his oldest son’s vehicle back from Humboldt, Sask., to Airdrie on Friday, which is also Ryan’s birthday.
He already has a plan to make the day special.
“I think I might sneak over to The Keg and get his favourite steak and shrimp combo,” Tom said.
“And I imagine he’s going to have a lot of visitors — all his buddies, and family, of course.”
Ryan, known as “Straz” to his friends, already has his sights set on playing sledge hockey.
The family will be meeting with physicians and Ryan’s care team in Calgary in the coming days to figure out the next steps.
“He’s the type of guy where he needs to be prepared, know step-by-step what he’s getting into, so he can prepare mentally — so as long as they tell him that, which they will, I think he should be OK,” Tom said.
“We also have to learn how to help him, too.”
As they watched a vigil for Ryan on TV last week — which was attended by more than 1,000 people — Tom said they were “floored.”
“The support has been unbelievable,” he said. “That shocked us when we were watching it, just how many people came.”
Ryan will likely need specialized wheelchairs, ramps and vehicles and his hometown has been rallying to help the family with the costs.
A friend in Airdrie came up with the idea to design and sell hats featuring Ryan’s green-and-gold jersey with his number 10 on the front and “#strazstrong” on the back.