Bronco back in the saddle again
CALGARY “It was like seeing a fiveyear-old opening up a big present and getting what he wanted.”
That’s how Tom Straschnitzki described seeing his son — injured Humboldt Bronco Ryan Straschnitzki — return to the ice for the first time since the tragic April bus crash that claimed the lives of 16 teammates and staff members.
On Friday, Straschnitzki’s goal of becoming a national sledge hockey player came one glide closer to fruition as he hit the ice in Okotoks.
“Seeing the huge smile on his face, well it almost made his mom cry,” said Tom. “We weren’t expecting (him to get back on the ice) this soon at all.”
And while dad was a little nervous, Ryan was simply excited to be back on the ice.
“It was good, just the smell of the ice and it was lots of fun,” he said. “Obviously, it’s a different sport I have to practice a lot but it was really enjoyable.”
Along with Straschnitzki were former Team Canada sledge hockey player Chris Cederstrand and current NHL player Corban Knight.
“Day 1 of try outs. First time on ice since April 5. BIGGEST SMILE momma and I have ever seen,” tweeted Tom.
“Yes, Corban Knight (Flyers) and (girlfriend) Erika (Burns) and I were out there also. It is NOT easy. I will always try what Ryan does. He was wayyy better than me today.”
Cederstrand, who lost his leg in a 2004 construction site accident, said he reached out to Straschnitzki
I have threeand-a-half years to try and crack that lineup. I mean that’s a long-term goal for sure, I’m just getting new to the sport so we’ll see what happens.
not long after the crash.
“Being a former high-level hockey player myself, it was something that really resonated with me,” said Cederstrand, who added he was never able to get the support he offered to him.
“I wanted to try and help these kids as much as possible. I got in touch with his parents and been in a fair bit of contact with Ryan ever since the accident. He expressed a lot of interest in playing sledge, so we’ve been waiting for him to have the green light to do it.”
Months in the making, Straschnitzki was able to finally hit the ice, something that impressed Cederstrand.
“He was amazing out there,” Cederstrand said.
“I’ve had a lot of people out in sleds and Ryan got out there and took right to it. He got out there and there were no issues at all. He had a smile on his face and it was something I won’t forget.”
How far can Ryan go with sledge hockey? Cederstrand thinks he can go as far as he wants.
“Ryan will be able to play sledge hockey, hopefully, at the highest capacity possible,” he said.
“Ryan, by far, has the most grit, determination, and resiliency that I have ever come across. There is no quit in him — he’s got that elite athlete mentality.”
As for Ryan, he said his goal right now is to have fun and enjoy himself. But he does have the Winter Olympics on his mind.
“I have three and a half years to try and crack that lineup,” he said. “I mean that’s a long-term goal for sure, I’m just getting new to the sport so we’ll see what happens.”