In sport, we talk a lot about physical toughness. About grit. About pushing through, But true resilience? It starts with the mind. 

Ryan Straschnitzki has lived it.

Today, Ryan is training to compete in wheelchair basketball at the Paralympic level - but his journey started on the ice, just like any hockey-loving kid growing up in Calgary. What sets him apart isn’t what he’s overcome - it’s how he continues to show up. Every day. With purpose, with perspective, and with the mental readiness to rise.

"Mental Readiness isn't about performance. It's about survival."

For Ryan, mental readiness isn’t a buzzword. It’s a mindset. A muscle. One he’s been training - often under the most difficult conditions - since the moment his life changed forever.

“You’re not just battling pain or limitations,” Ryan explains. “You’re battling your mind. Every day is a choice to get up, to push, to believe in yourself - especially when no one else can do it for you.”

That kind of mental strength doesn’t start on the bench press. It starts with identity. With support. With coaches and systems that value the human being inside the athlete.

As Ryan puts it, “The only disability you can have is a bad attitude. Everyone faces something. It’s how you face it that defines you.”

Advice to Coaches: You're shaping more than a season - you're shaping lives.

When asked what he’d tell coaches today, Ryan is clear:

“Taking care of your athletes is something that benefits the individual — and sets them up for success in the future.”

He believes the way athletes are supported today will impact how they face challenges for the rest of their lives - in sport and beyond.

Long before his accident, one coach left an impression that Ryan still carries:

“Our coach in Humboldt made it clear: character mattered more than points. He cared about who you were, not just how you played. That stuck with me.”

It’s a philosophy Ryan has taken into his own work — from public speaking to founding Straz Strong, an organization supporting people with physical and mental challenges through adaptive sport and community.

From Ice to Impact: Ryan's Next Chapter

Today, Ryan is focused on a future beyond hockey - pursuing elite-level wheelchair basketball with his sights set on the Canadian Paralympic team. His transition reflects a mindset shift: from chasing stats to shaping systems, from recovery to reinvention.

He’s more than a survivor. He’s a symbol of what’s possible when we invest in mental well-being, not just performance.

At HONE, we believe stories like Ryan’s are reminders that mental readiness is a performance necessity - not a side topic, not a nice-to-have.

Because athletes aren’t just training for game day. They’re training for life.

"You Remember Every Moment" - The Day That Changed Everything

On April 6, 2018, Ryan Straschnitzki was on a team bus with the Humboldt Broncos. What started as a routine game day - morning skate, team breakfast, nap at the billets - turned into a national tragedy.

The team’s bus collided with a semi-truck. Sixteen lives were lost. Thirteen others were injured. Ryan survived, but was paralyzed from the chest down.

“I remember sitting up with my back against the semi. I looked around and just thought, ‘What happened?’ I looked down at my legs, and they weren’t moving. That moment changed everything.”

The months that followed were filled with pain, therapy, and relentless effort.

“There were times I couldn’t even get out of bed without a crane. But every small win - just getting into a wheelchair - became part of rebuilding who I was.”

And even then, his mindset was clear. He wasn’t going to stay down. Watching Canada lose to the U.S. in para-ice hockey lit a fire in him.

“I told my dad right then, ‘I’m going to play for Team Canada and bring home the gold.’ That was my mindset from day one.”

This Is What Mental Readiness Looks Like

Ryan Straschnitzki is a leader. A builder of culture. A future Paralympian who reminds us that strength is more than physical - it’s mental, emotional, and communal.

At HONE Athletics, we exist to help coaches support their athletes beyond the stats. We equip them with tools and guidance to foster mental wellness, team connection, and resilient cultures that elevate everyone.

Because when athletes are mentally ready, they don’t just survive -
They rise.

Want to Learn More?

Whether you're a coach, athlete, parent or sport leader - we'd love to show you how HONE is changing the game for teams across North America and on a Global Scale. 

👉 Connect with us today to book a walkthrough or chat with our team:

Let’s build stronger, more resilient athletes. Together.