Latest news with #HumboldtBronco
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Ryan Straschnitzki's first pitch at Blue Jays game recalls Humboldt tragedy
Humboldt Bronco crash survivor Ryan Straschnitzki (Credit: Getty Image) When Ryan Straschnitzki rolled onto the field at Rogers Centre. It wasn't just about baseball, the former junior hockey player, now paralyzed from the chest down. Also delivered the ceremonial first pitch. Before a packed Toronto Blue Jays crowd, and the moment held more than symbolic value. As it reflected years of personal transformation since the 2018 Humboldt Broncos bus crash. From junior hockey to Paralympic dreams New TV series on AMI to feature Ryan Straschnitzki Since the accident, he has focused on adaptive sports. He trained intensely in sled hockey and wheelchair basketball, as his goal is clear: to represent Canada at the 2028 Paralympic Games, that determination has kept him moving, both physically and mentally. The first pitch wasn't just about baseball. It represented the distance he's traveled; from despair to competitive hope. A national spotlight on personal strength Humboldt Bronco crash survivor Ryan Straschnitzki (Credit: Getty Image) Straschnitzki's return to the public eye isn't limited to the pitcher's mound. His visit to Toronto also marks the release of a new TV series, We Were Broncos. The show recounts the aftermath of the Humboldt tragedy, focusing on personal recovery and rebuilding identity. Turning tragedy into purpose and legacy Straschnitzki doesn't shy away from what happened. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Secure Your Child's Future with Strong English Fluency Planet Spark Learn More Undo But he doesn't let it define him either. His life now centers on pushing boundaries; those of physical limits, public perception, and personal expectations. He trains, speaks, and now, appears in media that reshapes how tragedies are remembered. Read more: Mock draft sparks surprise with Anton Frondell to Blackhawks Ryan Straschnitzki's first pitch at the Blue Jays game was more than a ceremonial act, it was a reminder of how resilience can take root in the darkest places. His continued pursuit of sport, storytelling, and purpose underscores a vital truth, recovery is ongoing. But so is strength, and his story is still unfolding, and it's one Canada continues to follow closely. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
CBC
06-04-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Memorials, tributes announced on 7th anniversary of Humboldt Broncos bus tragedy
Social Sharing Former Humboldt Bronco player Tyler Smith has been on a whirlwind journey since surviving the bus crash on April 6, 2018, that took the lives of 16 young hockey players and injured 13 other people on the bus. Nevertheless, Smith says, the anniversary day will still be a tough one. "There's been a lot of growth and there's been a lot of change," he said. "I am now understanding my grief journey a little bit better." He said he plans to light his candles, as he does every year. "I think they would still want us to, you know, get out there and enjoy the day," Smith said. "I'll be heading to my brother's place to go side by side with one of the other guys as well." It's still important to acknowledge the families who lost loved ones, so a simple text or message would go a long way, said Smith. "If you know somebody that was impacted that day, I want you to send a text, I want you to make a phone call.… It still goes a long way, and I know it's appreciated." Smith says he met an older woman who told him the biggest fear with loss is forgetting, which got him thinking. "It really hit home," he said. "But I think for hockey fans, Saskatchewan people and Canadians … I know we'll never forget." Since the crash, Smith went on to become the winner of season 9 of The Amazing Race Canada in 2023. He also now focuses on mental health awareness, and is a motivational speaker who shares his experiences and struggles with others. "I think it's difficult roads that lead to beautiful destinations," he said. "There were some difficult, difficult roads, and I think there still are. But I think it's been pretty interesting and unique, how it has led to the world of connection and the world of opportunity." Memorial projects Two memorial projects have been announced by a local committee to honour the 2017-18 Broncos team. The first entails securing a paving contract this spring to complete Phase 1 of a memorial to be located at the intersection of Highways 35 and 335 near Tisdale — about 125 kilometres as the crow flies northeast of Humboldt — where the fatal accident occurred. Phase 2 of that project will be a monument in honour of the 16 who were killed in the crash, and the 13 who survived. The second project is the Humboldt Tribute Centre, a place dedicated to honour the 2017-18 Broncos team. The facility will hold items and memorabilia gifted to the community in the weeks and months after the tragedy. This project is awaiting a construction grant, though the committee behind it hopes to engage the community of Humboldt on design and funding ideas. As well, Green Shirt Day is observed on April 7 to remember the victims and their families, and to continue Logan Boulet's legacy by inspiring Canadians to register as organ donors. Boulet, who died from his injuries in the crash, was a registered organ donor who had spoken previously about his wishes to donate his organs to others. Boulet's story helped inspire more than 150,000 people across Canada to register as organ donors, and became known as the "Logan Boulet effect." A statement from the province said the Saskatchewan Health Authority's organ donation program saw "a remarkable 75 per cent increase in deceased organ donors" in 2023 over the previous year. It also said that according to the latest report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information, Saskatchewan has, for the first time, the highest rate of deceased organ donors in Canada, with 28.9 donors per million. "Logan's legacy reminds us how important it is for Canadians to talk with their family about their organ and tissue donation wishes. It will be up to families to give consent," Logan's parents said in a media release earlier this year. "We would love that for every person who registers their intent to donate, then speak with four others about donation," said Logan's father, Toby Boulet.
