Latest news with #RyanStraschnitzki
Globe and Mail
12-06-2025
- Health
- Globe and Mail
‘I forgot how tall I was': Former Humboldt Bronco Ryan Straschnitzki walks using exoskeleton
It's been a while since Ryan Straschnitzki looked at the world from a different perspective. The former Humboldt Broncos hockey player has been using a wheelchair since 2018, when he was paralyzed from the chest down in a bus crash in rural Saskatchewan that killed 16 people and injured 13 others. On Thursday, he demonstrated an exoskeleton that allowed him to walk along a 12-metre track in Calgary. 'I forgot how tall I was. I'm usually sitting really low, so I don't see people above their heads. Now being here, I get to see everybody's head. It's cool,' Straschnitzki said while standing in the wearable device. 'I feel like Iron Man in this thing. Just missing the helmet,' he added with a laugh. Vancouver-based Human in Motion Robotic's XoMotion system enables people with spinal cord injuries and in neurological rehabilitation to stand and walk with robotic support. Straschnitzki had been in the device before but got to control it Thursday. He used a small remote to move the device forward, backward and turn sideways. It also helped him handle a hockey stick and throw a football to staff at the rehab centre. 'It's pretty cool. I'm glad I played video games growing up,' he said. 'I got to learn how to two-step in this thing. Someone here's got to teach me, and I'll bring it to Stampede.' Straschnitzki said the technology wasn't even an option when he was injured. 'It was more so, is my body going to heal? Am I going to walk again on my own?' he said. 'Over time, you come to terms with the extent of your injuries. And then you realize that science is expanding every day, and there's technology like this one that will allow people with spinal cord injuries to walk again. It's super incredible and I'm very fortunate to try it.' The cost of the exoskeleton is about $400,000. Uyen Nguyen, executive director of Calgary's Synaptic Spinal Cord Injury and Neuro Rehabilitation Centre, said the exoskeleton mimics human motions. 'I never thought this was going to be possible. It's almost a Cinderella story that's come to life,' Nguyen said. 'It is one of the most advanced, because it is the most human-like in movement. Biomechanically, it is smooth. So when Ryan gets into it, it feels great, it feels natural.' The device will be offered to other patients at the centre, including those with spinal injuries or health problems like Parkinson's disease. Siamak Arzanpour, CEO of Human in Motion Robotics Inc., said the goal has always been to help those dealing with injuries have more independence. He said the long-term goal is to have exoskeletons deployed in real life activities, but there needs to be a controlled environment to prove they're safe first. He said Straschnitzki was the inspiration for developing the device. 'In 2018, Ryan probably didn't think about us. But from the beginning, we were thinking about him,' Arzanpour said. 'We wanted to use this device, helping him to walk again.'
Toronto Sun
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
'I forgot how tall I was': Injured Bronco Ryan Straschnitzki walks using exoskeleton
Published Jun 12, 2025 • 2 minute read Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor Ryan Straschnitzki tosses a basketball in Airdrie, Alta., Wednesday, May 14, 2025. Photo by Jeff McIntosh / The Canadian Press CALGARY — It's been a while since Ryan Straschnitzki looked at the world from a different perspective. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The former Humboldt Broncos hockey player has been using a wheelchair since 2018, when he was paralyzed from the chest down in a bus crash in rural Saskatchewan that killed 16 people and injured 13 others. On Thursday, he demonstrated an exoskeleton that allowed him to walk along a 12-metre track in Calgary. 'I forgot how tall I was. I'm usually sitting really low, so I don't see people above their heads. Now being here, I get to see everybody's head. It's cool,' Straschnitzki said while standing in the wearable device. 'I feel like Iron Man in this thing. Just missing the helmet,' he added with a laugh. Vancouver-based Human in Motion Robotic's XoMotion system enables people with spinal cord injuries and in neurological rehabilitation to stand and walk with robotic support. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Straschnitzki had been in the device before but got to control it Thursday. He used a small remote to move the device forward, backward and turn sideways. It also helped him handle a hockey stick and throw a football to staff at the rehab centre. 'It's pretty cool. I'm glad I played video games growing up,' he said. 'I got to learn how to two-step in this thing. Someone here's got to teach me, and I'll bring it to Stampede.' Straschnitzki said the technology wasn't even an option when he was injured. 'It was more so, is my body going to heal? Am I going to walk again on my own?' he said. 'Over time, you come to terms with the extent of your injuries. And then you realize that science is expanding every day, and there's technology like this one that will allow people with spinal cord injuries to walk again. It's super incredible and I'm very fortunate to try it.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The cost of the exoskeleton is about $400,000. Uyen Nguyen, executive director of Calgary's Synaptic Spinal Cord Injury and Neuro Rehabilitation Centre, said the exoskeleton mimics human motions. 'I never thought this was going to be possible. It's almost a Cinderella story that's come to life,' Nguyen said. 'It is one of the most advanced, because it is the most human-like in movement. Biomechanically, it is smooth. So when Ryan gets into it, it feels great, it feels natural.' The device will be offered to other patients at the centre, including those with spinal injuries or health problems like Parkinson's disease. Siamak Arzanpour, CEO of Human in Motion Robotics Inc., said the goal has always been to help those dealing with injuries have more independence. He said the long-term goal is to have exoskeletons deployed in real life activities, but there needs to be a controlled environment to prove they're safe first. He said Straschnitzki was the inspiration for developing the device. 'In 2018, Ryan probably didn't think about us. But from the beginning, we were thinking about him,' Arzanpour said. 'We wanted to use this device, helping him to walk again.' Read More World Toronto Blue Jays World Toronto & GTA Celebrity
CTV News
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
‘Life moves forward': Docuseries centred on former Humboldt Bronco Ryan Straschnitzki premieres in Regina
The AMI docuseries "We Were Broncos" follows Ryan Straschnitzki, as he works to make Canada's national sledge hockey team before switching sports. (Source: AMI) Ryan Straschnitzki, one of the 13 survivors of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash, is the subject of a new docuseries that follows his attempt to make Canada's national sledge hockey team before switching sports. The series, We Were Broncos, had its premiere in Regina Wednesday night. Speaking with CTV News, Straschnitzki explained that he was initially hesitant to participate in the series. 'The more I thought about, the more I thought it could be good exposure for adaptive sports, my journey and kind of a thank you to let people know that from their support I was able to be in this position and continue to strive for the paralympics,' he explained. The six-part series documents the partially paralyzed hockey player's attempt to make the national sled hockey team and an unexpected turn. 'So, I got cut from the national sled hockey team and my entire life revolved around getting cut from sports teams, so I knew that the next step was continuing to move forward,' Staschnitzki explained. 'That's all I was ever taught. My dad taught me that and so my next path forward, my next open door was wheelchair basketball.' The series airs Monday nights on the AMI cable channel and streams on AMI Plus. 'One of the things that we've been able to do is work across Canada with production companies – reflecting content with people with disabilities,' Vice President of AMI, John Melville, explained. The series is the creation of Regina television producer Lucas Frison. 'I have a personal connection with the Humboldt crash because I was best friends with Mark Cross, the assistant coach who died in the crash,' Frison explained. 'So, its always something that's close to me, I've always been following Ryan's journey from afar.' Straschnitzki is pleased with how the television series turned out. 'It's a part of life. Its something that happened that I wish I could take back – but life moves forward,' he said. 'Try to live your best life and do it in memory of them and everyone we lost that day. So, it's a lot of mixed emotions but a lot of it is that push and that drive to move forward from them.' While Straschnitzki is now focused on wheelchair basketball, he hasn't given up on his love for hockey. He's considering a return one day as a sled hockey coach.
CTV News
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Humboldt survivor on new documentary
'We were Broncos' follows 26-year-old Ryan Straschnitzki's journey as he works toward his goal of playing wheelchair basketball.
CTV News
24-05-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
New documentary series focuses on Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor's quest for Olympic gold
Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor Ryan Straschnitzki tells his story in 'We Were Broncos,' a new six-part documentary on AMI-tv.
