'A lot more vigorous': Paralyzed Humboldt Bronco in Calgary to work with new physio

Ryan Straschnitzki and his family return to Calgary, Alta., from medical treatment in Philadelphia Wednesday, July 4, 2018. (Jeff McIntosh/ The Canadian Press)

CALGARY -- 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-old's 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.

"It's a lot more vigorous here," said Straschnitzki, who was discharged from the Shriners Hospital in Philadelphia earlier this month.

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

"It was pretty intimidating. But once I did it, I said let's keep doing this and work on it."

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.

"This is going to make Philadelphia seem like a vacation," said Synaptic's executive director and founder Uyen Nguyen, who worked as a sports therapist for elite athletes before opening the clinic in 2012.

"His body has recovered a little bit more so he's able to tolerate more."

Straschnitzki was all smiles after an assessment at the centre.

"I realized I've got some movement back in my core muscles. They're pretty weak but they're getting back so I'm pretty excited," he said.

"They should come back stronger and who knows what will happen after."

Nguyen said Straschnitzki is now able to flex some of his stomach muscles and it's a good sign.

"Our assessment shows he has some voluntary control below his level of injury so he's able to contract some of the abdominal muscles on command. So it's voluntary. We'll work on that six pack," she said.

"It's encouraging."

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

"We don't have a discharge date. We don't have this checklist of you've met all these things and goodbye, good luck. What we find in here is most people's goals evolve over time," she said.

"We're constantly pushing to see where the limitations are. We don't know what he's capable of so, until you try, you don't know and it's really a discovery process."

Tom Straschnitzki says his son has made "big time" progress since he began his therapy at Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary three months ago.

"He's getting his balance, but that's also from the training from Philly and the occupational therapists in Foothills also. It's kind of progressed to where he is now. Now they're just taking it over and doing it extra hard," 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.

Straschnitzki's 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.

"First time on ice since April 5," Tom Straschnitzki posted on Twitter. "BIGGEST SMILE momma and I have ever seen."