Ryan Straschnitzki engaging with attendees at the speaker series

A group of junior hockey players piled on to the bus, buzzing with excitement. They couldn’t wait for the moment they could lace up their skates, throw a jersey over their head and jump onto the slippery ice. They all checked their phones, making sure not to miss any of the good luck or safe travels messages coming from their families and friends. Chatter filled the bus as they settled in for the trip.

The hockey team never made it to that game.

On April 6, 2018, the Humboldt Broncos hockey team was tragically hit by a semi-truck killing 16 people and injuring 13 others. It’s been eight years since one mistake changed the lives of all these athletes and their families.

However, while things seemed to be out of control at the time, some of these individuals would go on to do incredible things.

One of these individuals is Ryan Straschnitzki. He went on to impact the lives of athletes all over the world in ways he couldn’t have imagined. According to an article on spinal cord injuries written by the World Health Organization in 2024, global estimates suggest that in 2021, approximately 15.4 million people were living with a spinal cord injury.

Straschnitzki. is one of those people. He suffered paraplegia as a result of this tragic crash. Little did he know that he would build an incredible legacy not only for himself, but also for others who experienced the challenges that come with paralysis.

On March 4, 2026, the Lethbridge Polytechnic had the honour of hosting him as the speaker for the Polytechnic’s Speaker Series.

Taylor Bourret, the engagement coordinator at the Lethbridge Polytechnic explained their team brought in Straschnitzki because his story hits close to home.

“We saw the connection to the community, the Humboldt bus crash was a big impact on our community with Logan Boulet being a young gentleman that lived here in the community, we saw the immediate tie to that.”

She also said bringing in Straschnitzki provides a new perspective for anyone who came to listen.

“Ryan’s story about the shift in mindset and the positivity and resiliency, we just really thought the room would take away that shift in perspective. We wanted the room to leave feeling positive and just come off with a different message that they maybe haven’t heard before.”

During the event, Straschnitzki spoke about his journey leading up to the crash, his recovery journey as well as the Straz Strong foundation he created along the way.

He explained in his talk what he seeks to do through this foundation and how its goal is to help individuals who experience disabilities could still be able to participate in the sports they love.

“It’s a charity organization I started to remove financial barriers for people trying to get involved in adaptive sports.”

Adaptive sports aren’t an easy investment. One wheelchair specialized for basketball costs between $2,500 to more than $6,000. A competitive, custom paralympic ice hockey sled costs between $1,000 and $4,500.

“It’s quite an expensive, realm. I guess the equipment can range anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 to $25,000 for a piece of equipment. And if that’s the only barrier stopping people from achieving their goals, through the foundation, our aim is to remove those and provide the equipment to the individuals or communities that need them,” Straschnitzki says.

If you add all the extra expenses, whether that’s medical bills or other fees, Straschnitzki is right, it’s expensive. The Straz Strong foundation will continue to help numerous individuals pursue the sports they love without the added financial stress. However, it isn’t just the foundation that is impacting people.

One attendee, Gwen Wirth, was touched by the story Straschnitzki shared and she said she was inspired.

“To be able to listen to Ryan speak about how you can continue to move forward and don’t get stuck in a moment. You battle through. That forward momentum, the hard work, perseverance, it all pays off. And it’s worth it,” she says.

Straschnitzki’s story certainly didn’t end after the accident, frankly, it has only begun. While today’s journey looks a little different, he finds connecting with people the most rewarding.

“The most rewarding part is just meeting so many individuals from around the world and really connecting and resonating and finding similarities,” he says.

His hope is for people to be inspired through his journey, to truly understand the growth mindset and the power of resilience and self belief.

People most certainly have been inspired through his stories. Wirth stated she would share what she learned with her kids each time they fail at something.

“I think so much of what was talked about tonight was something that I can take home and chat with my own children about, that perseverance, that purpose, that passion and taking that forward. If they fail at something or don’t achieve something they were hoping to achieve, it’s not the end. Another door will open and there will be more opportunities as long as they continue to work hard and go after what they want.”

Straschnitzki continues to attend physiotherapy, with the hope of one day walking again. In the meantime, he continues to grow an incredible foundation and touch the lives of so many incredible individuals.

The Straz Strong Foundation states, “everyone has their own story. The only disability you can have is a bad attitude in life.”

For more information on the foundation and Straschnitzki’s story visit: https://www.strazstrongfoundation.com/ryans-story