Ryan Straschnitzki’s life has been an open book since he was seriously injured in the Broncos Humboldt bus accident, and his story will soon be shown on television.
Airdrie’s 26 -year -old player, was paralyzed with the chest in 2018, when a semi -trailer ran a high signal and crashed into the junior hockey team bus road in the rural area of Saskatchewan.
Sixteen people died and 13 were injured.
A Filming team with Prairie Cat Productions, based in Regina, followed Straschnitzki for eight months and created a series of six parts called “We were broncos.” It is broadcast on AMI, or accessible Media Inc., as of May 26.
Straschnitzki played in the Alberta hockey team and had been training with the Paralympic Development team, but his trip ended in the Olympic tests of the Canada team.
Ring dreams
In July 2023, he decided to try to make the Paralympic basketball team 2028.
The measure caught the attention of Lucas Frison, founder of Prairie Cat, who had completed a documentary for CBC in the Bronco team in the season after the accident.
“Looking back, seeing some of the images and where I was where I am now is a real eye starter. I think I have changed a lot as a person,” Straschnitzki said to the Canadian press as he shot the hoops on an outdoor court on Airdrie.
“I think that at the beginning of the basketball season I doubted a little. At the end of the season I had much more confidence in myself and I realized that I had the ability to get where I want to do it, if I put the job.”
Straschnitzki has been playing in a Basketball team in Calgary wheelchair and was invited to his first camp in July for the Canada team.
Frison, the producer and director of “We were Broncos”, was a close friend of Mark Cross, an assistant bronch coach who died in the accident.
Frison said it is gratifying to tell Straschnitzki’s story.
“I have to know him a lot about this last year, and he is a fun and positive person to be close.”
In the series, Ryan talks about being recognized and approached by people on the street about the accident and his survival, said Frison.
“He understands. He agrees with that. But he also wants to be known for other things, as his search for wheelchair basketball and make the Canadian Paralympic team for the Paralympics of 2028. He wants to be known for his strong charity of Strazs that began and some of these things that were beyond the accident.”
Straschnitzki will be in Toronto this week promoting the series.
“I think many people know the story of Humboldt and what happened. But I think many people really don’t know my story … my perspective and where I am now,” he said.
“I think it will open many eyes and I hope people have an idea of how my life looks.”
Frison and Straschnitzki said they hope there is a second season.
Straschnitzki admitted that he has not seen the finished product.
“I hate looking at myself and listening to me, so I don’t know what to expect,” he said with a smile.
“I just hope that the public likes and goes well, then we will see what happens from there.”
