The first thing I remember about the Humboldt Broncos bus crash was the silence. Not just in the newsroom where I worked in 2018, but across Canada – a nation momentarily united in collective grief. Six years later, that silence has transformed into a powerful story of endurance and hope.
Ryan Straschnitzki was one of 13 who survived when a semi-truck slammed into the Humboldt Broncos team bus at a rural Saskatchewan intersection on April 6, 2018. Sixteen others didn’t make it home. Ryan, then just 19, was left paralyzed from the chest down – a devastating reality for a young hockey player with dreams of making it to the NHL.
Now, a three-part docuseries called “Beyond the Crash” is set to air on CBC and CBC Gem starting May 2, chronicling Ryan’s remarkable journey from the catastrophic accident to his ongoing recovery.
“It was difficult at first,” Ryan told me when I spoke with him last week about the series. “But I knew it was important to show people that even when life throws you the worst possible scenario, there’s always a way forward.”
The docuseries, directed by Kevin Eastwood and produced by Rob Bromley, follows Ryan through five years of his life after the crash. The cameras capture the raw reality of his physical therapy sessions, the emotional toll on his family, and most powerfully, his transition to becoming a sledge hockey athlete with Paralympic aspirations.
What makes this documentary particularly compelling is how it refuses to smooth over the rough edges of recovery. In one scene, viewers witness Ryan’s frustration during a particularly difficult physical therapy session – a moment he almost asked the crew to stop filming.
“I wanted people to see the real process,” Ryan explained. “Recovery isn’t linear. There are setbacks, bad days, moments of pure rage. But there are also breakthroughs that make it all worthwhile.”
The crash itself remains one of Canada’s most devastating sports tragedies. The team was heading to a playoff game when their bus collided with a semi-truck whose driver had failed to stop at a flashing stop sign. The driver, Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, was later sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to 29 counts of dangerous driving causing death or bodily harm.
According to Transport Canada, there were more than 2,400 fatalities from motor vehicle collisions in 2019 alone. Beyond these statistics are countless survivors living with permanent disabilities and trauma – people whose stories often fade from public view once the initial tragedy leaves the headlines.
Tom Straschnitzki, Ryan’s father, appears throughout the docuseries, providing perspective on what families endure when supporting a loved one through catastrophic injury. The family home in Airdrie, Alberta, required extensive renovations to accommodate Ryan’s wheelchair and new needs.
“The house modifications alone cost over $250,000,” Tom noted in a recent press interview about the series. “Insurance covers some, but families often drain savings and take second mortgages to make life workable again after spinal cord injuries.”
What distinguishes “Beyond the Crash” from typical inspirational narratives is its willingness to acknowledge the systemic challenges facing people with disabilities. Ryan speaks candidly about accessibility barriers he encounters daily – from restaurants without ramps to public transit difficulties.
Dr. Catherine Yuill, a rehabilitation specialist at the University of Alberta who was not involved in Ryan’s care but has expertise in spinal cord injuries, believes documentaries like this serve an important public health function.
“When we see the day-to-day reality of living with a spinal cord injury, it helps destigmatize disability and educates people about both the challenges and possibilities,” Yuill explained when I interviewed her about the significance of the series. “It can also motivate communities to become more accessible and inclusive.”
For Ryan, discovering sledge hockey became a turning point in his recovery. The documentary captures his evolution from novice to serious competitor as he sets his sights on representing Canada in the Paralympic Games.
“Getting back on the ice was like finding a piece of myself I thought was gone forever,” Ryan told me. “Hockey was always my identity. Now it still is, just in a different form.”
The docuseries also explores the bonds between the Broncos survivors and the families of those lost. In particularly moving footage, Ryan visits the memorial at the crash site alongside teammate Kaleb Dahlgren, author of the memoir “Crossroads,” who suffered a traumatic brain injury in the crash.
“We’re connected for life,” Ryan says in the documentary. “Not just the guys who were on the bus, but the whole community. We carry those we lost with us in everything we do.”
The timing of the series release coincides with an important milestone for the Straschnitzki family. Ryan recently completed groundbreaking spinal stimulation therapy in Thailand that has allowed him to move his legs in limited ways – progress that medical professionals initially thought impossible.
When I asked what he hopes viewers take from watching his journey, Ryan paused before answering.
“I hope they see that the human spirit is stronger than we think. And maybe next time they see someone in a wheelchair, they’ll see the person first, not the disability,” he said. “But mostly, I hope it honors my teammates who can’t tell their stories anymore. This is for them too.”
“Beyond the Crash” premieres on CBC and CBC Gem on May 2 at 8 p.m.
