Ryan Straschnitzki says there is nothing like the feel of being back on the ice.

The former Humboldt Bronco junior hockey player, paralyzed from the chest down when a semi-trailer blew through a stop sign and into his teamB次元官网网址檚 bus three years ago in rural Saskatchewan, has been spending time playing sledge hockey on a pond behind his familyB次元官网网址檚 home in Airdrie, Alta.

The rippled outdoor ice isnB次元官网网址檛 what heB次元官网网址檚 used to, but he says itB次元官网网址檚 a welcome change after COVID-19 closed hockey rinks and limited the 21-year-old to workouts at home.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 great. I mean any time you can get on the ice, especially during COVID, is just kind of a blessing,B次元官网网址� Straschnitzki told The Canadian Press during a recent pond practice.

Since the bus crash, which killed 16 people and injured a dozen others, StraschnitzkiB次元官网网址檚 focus has been on making the national sledge hockey team and winning a gold medal for Canada at the Paralympic Games

He made AlbertaB次元官网网址檚 sledge hockey team last year and was preparing for the national championships.

B次元官网网址淚t got cancelled last year. It got cancelled this year. So itB次元官网网址檚 just another year of training and IB次元官网网址檝e gotta work harder than ever to be more prepared and hopefully win another championship.B次元官网网址�

It was tricky getting Straschnitzki to the pond. After placing him into his hockey sled, his family put him on a toboggan and slid him down a snowy hill and onto the ice.

His younger brother, Jett, who plays junior hockey in Fernie, B.C., made the four-hour drive home to join him in a skate for the first time in a few years.

B次元官网网址淚 thought I might as well make the drive and see him on the ice,B次元官网网址� he said.

StraschnitzkiB次元官网网址檚 mother said it was heartwarming to see her entire family on the ice. Her oldest son remains positive, but the past year has been hard on him, she said.

B次元官网网址淗e doesnB次元官网网址檛 talk to us too much about it, but IB次元官网网址檓 sure inside itB次元官网网址檚 been a struggle. It took him a long time to come out on the pond with the family and neighbours,B次元官网网址� said Michelle Straschnitzki.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not the same for him and he misses his teammates. He works out constantly. He is absolutely a Hercules when it comes to that. He just carries on.B次元官网网址�

Tom Straschnitzki said it was good to see a smile on his sonB次元官网网址檚 face.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l probably be leaving him and his brother out there. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the way theyB次元官网网址檝e always done it.B次元官网网址�

Ryan Straschnitzki said his Paralympic dream in still in focus.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 never going away. And IB次元官网网址檓 gonna just keep training and then see where it takes me.B次元官网网址�

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Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press

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