Flyers GM fights back emotions when discussing visit with Humboldt crash survivor
Hockey players are supposed to be tough.
During his 13-year playing career, there weren’t many tougher guys between the pipes than Ron Hextall. The former All-Star didn’t like people in his goalie crease, and wasn’t afraid to let them know it.
This week, Hextall — now the general manager of the Philadelphia Flyers — learned what real toughness is all about.
Ryan Straschnitzki is one of the 13 survivors of the Humboldt Broncos, the junior team involved in a bus crash in April that killed 16 people.
Straschnitzki was near Philadelphia, continuing his rehabilitation from the accident, which has left him paralyzed from the waist down.
When Hextall heard that Straschnitzki and his father were in town, he invited them to visit a practice for Flyers’ development camp.
The visit was ostensibly to lift Ryan’s spirirts — which it did — but the effect was felt by the 54-year old GM, who broke down for 23 seconds in sharing his experience with the media.
#Flyers GM Ron Hextall emotional talking about Humboldt Broncos player Ryan Straschnitzki, who was paralyzed in a deadly bus crash in April that killed teammates
Flyers invited Straschnitzki to development camp @6abc #flyers pic.twitter.com/kLDNZ5C80e
— Jeff Skversky (@JeffSkversky) June 30, 2018
“He’s an incredible young man,” Hextall said. “You guys just witnessed it, but to be around him to see the attitude of a young man whose life has essentially been turned upside down.
“I remember when the accident happened for myself and everybody else involved in hockey, including you guys, it … it hit home. Most of us have ridden buses, and still ride buses and for something like that to happen, it hit really close to home for everybody.
Ryan’s relentless work ethic is paying off; he’s far enough ahead of schedule that he’s returning home next weekend — the first time since the accident.
There’s another thing that is relentless — Ryan’s love of hockey.
We had a very special guest visit Development Camp today. Humboldt Bronco Ryan Straschnitzki and his Dad met with the #Flyers Brass, took a tour of the facility, and watched practice. Ryan, you’re a Flyer for life. #HumboldtStrong pic.twitter.com/q4T3iLe4Bn
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) June 29, 2018
The Toronto Sun reports the former player may reach the NHL in a different capacity: working for the Calgary Flames.
“Hockey is my life,” he said. “I’ve grown up talking about it, living it and playing. It’s helped me through a lot of things. Say you had a bad test in school and you’re frustrated, so you go shoot pucks for an hour, just kind of relieve that stress. I can’t say much more about it.”
Seeing the courage of someone who may never walk again certainly puts things into perspective.
“You know what, you have a bad day, and you think things are going bad for you and then you look at a kid like Ryan with a positive attitude,” Hextall said. “You just give your head a shake and say, ‘Life’s not so bad. You better turn your attitude here a little bit.’
“It’s been inspiring for myself,” he added. “I don’t want to speak for everybody else, but I don’t know how you can’t be inspired to be around the young man.”
Yes, the NHL is full of “tough” guys, but this week in Philadelphia, hockey fans learned what “tough” really means.
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