Paralyzed Humboldt Broncos player Ryan Straschnitzki is drenched in sweat after a workout that more closely resembled military boot camp than physiotherapy.

The 19-year-oldB次元官网网址檚 two-hour routine at Synaptic: Spinal Cord Injury and Neuro Rehabilitation Centre in Calgary included chin ups, boxing, heavy rope training and pulling himself into a full standing position from his wheelchair just with the use of his arms.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a lot more vigorous here,B次元官网网址� said Straschnitzki, who was discharged from the Shriners Hospital in Philadelphia earlier this month.

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He said the first time he pulled himself to his feet, it was a bit scary.

B次元官网网址淚t was pretty intimidating. But once I did it, I said letB次元官网网址檚 keep doing this and work on it.B次元官网网址�

Straschnitzki was paralyzed from the chest down April 6 when a bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team and a semi-trailer collided north of Tisdale, Sask. The crash killed 16 people and injured 13 others.

B次元官网网址淭his is going to make Philadelphia seem like a vacation,B次元官网网址� said SynapticB次元官网网址檚 executive director and founder Uyen Nguyen, who worked as a sports therapist for elite athletes before opening the clinic in 2012.

B次元官网网址淗is body has recovered a little bit more so heB次元官网网址檚 able to tolerate more.B次元官网网址�

Straschnitzki was all smiles after an assessment at the centre.

B次元官网网址淚 realized IB次元官网网址檝e got some movement back in my core muscles. TheyB次元官网网址檙e pretty weak but theyB次元官网网址檙e getting back so IB次元官网网址檓 pretty excited,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淭hey should come back stronger and who knows what will happen after.B次元官网网址�

Nguyen said Straschnitzki is now able to flex some of his stomach muscles and itB次元官网网址檚 a good sign.

B次元官网网址淥ur assessment shows he has some voluntary control below his level of injury so heB次元官网网址檚 able to contract some of the abdominal muscles on command. So itB次元官网网址檚 voluntary. WeB次元官网网址檒l work on that six pack,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 encouraging.B次元官网网址�

Nguyen said in the short term, Straschnitzki will be at the centre for up to a year.

B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 have a discharge date. We donB次元官网网址檛 have this checklist of youB次元官网网址檝e met all these things and goodbye, good luck. What we find in here is most peopleB次元官网网址檚 goals evolve over time,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e constantly pushing to see where the limitations are. We donB次元官网网址檛 know what heB次元官网网址檚 capable of so, until you try, you donB次元官网网址檛 know and itB次元官网网址檚 really a discovery process.B次元官网网址�

Tom Straschnitzki says his son has made B次元官网网址渂ig timeB次元官网网址� progress since he began his therapy at Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary three months ago.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 getting his balance, but thatB次元官网网址檚 also from the training from Philly and the occupational therapists in Foothills also. ItB次元官网网址檚 kind of progressed to where he is now. Now theyB次元官网网址檙e just taking it over and doing it extra hard,B次元官网网址� he said.

Almost immediately after the April bus crash, Ryan Straschnitzki talked about playing for the national sledge hockey team.

Instead of skates, players use double-blade sledges that allow the puck to pass beneath. They have two sticks which have a spike-end for pushing and a blade-end for shooting.

StraschnitzkiB次元官网网址檚 dream of returning to the ice came true late last week. He was able to try out the sport which is one of the most popular events at the Winter Paralympic Games.

Straschnitzki, wearing full hockey gear, propelled himself along the ice in Okotoks, south of Calgary.

B次元官网网址淔irst time on ice since April 5,B次元官网网址� Tom Straschnitzki posted on Twitter. B次元官网网址淏IGGEST SMILE momma and I have ever seen.B次元官网网址�

Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press

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