Para sport update: Humboldt Broncos survivor named to Alberta’s wheelchair basketball team

OTTAWA – Ryan Straschnitzki, a survivor of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018, has been named to Alberta’s wheelchair basketball team for the national championships May 15-17 in Richmond, B.C.

Straschnitzki has shown great determination to continue his sports career.

“It’s exciting,’’ he told DiscoverAirdrie.com.  ‘’Last year I tried out for the team and got cut, so to bounce back even better and make the team, it provides the support that I need to trust in what I’m doing

“This provincial team plays against all the other provinces; it’s the top men in Canada that are competing to play for gold to be the top province in the country.’’

First, though, the Canadian Wheelchair Basketball League Finals take centre stage

This week, the Canadian Wheelchair Basketball League (CWBL) Finals are set to tip off at the Saville Community Sports Centre from April 17–19 in Edmonton.

With four divisions and 22 teams registered, the 2026 CWBL Finals are set to be the largest domestic event hosted by Wheelchair Basketball Canada to date.

New at the 2026 tournament is the launch of Division 3 competition, introducing an open-points format designed to expand access to national-level play.

The 2026 tournament will also feature an expanded minis division, providing young athletes with the opportunity to compete at the national level and further develop their skills.

1980s Alberta Northern Lights to be honoured at CWBL Finals

Also at the CWBL Championships, the 1980s Alberta Northern Lights will be honoured during a special halftime ceremony on Friday, April 17. Members of the historic Northern Lights squad will be in attendance as Alberta faces Centre d’intégration à la vie active (CIVA) at 7 p.m. in a rematch of last year’s gold medal game.

Founded in the 1980s, the Alberta Northern Lights quickly rose to become one of the most recognized wheelchair basketball programs in the world, consistently ranking among North America’s top teams and helping establish major competitions such as the Challenge Cup.

White and Clements named to Canada’s National Para Hockey Development Team

Hockey Canada announced the roster for Canada’s National Para Hockey Development Team for a three-game series against the United States, April 27-May 1 at Merlis Belsher Place in Saskatoon.

The roster includes two members of Canada’s silver medal-winning team at the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games (Shawn Burnett and Mathieu Lelièvre) and two members of Canada’s national women’s para hockey team (Aubree Clements and Alyssa White).

“The growth we’re seeing—especially with emerging athletes coming through development opportunities like this series—speaks to the strength of our system and the commitment from everyone involved,’’ said Canada’s national team head coach Boris Rybalka.

 “It’s an exciting time for our program, and we’re confident we’re on the right path as we prepare the next generation to succeed.”

New national Para badminton head coach named

Badminton Canada announced Elliott Beals as the new head coach of Canada’s Para-badminton national team.

Beals succeeds Frank Gaudet, who has led the program since 2018 and made history as Canada’s first head coach to guide the Para badminton team at the Paralympic Games. 

“Frank Gaudet provided leadership to a new and emerging para program for Badminton Canada. His contribution as the program started was tremendous,” said Badminton Canada’s executive director Bryan Merrett.

 “To ensure his good work continues, we are excited to support Elliott Beals as he comes into the program to continue growing the pool and developing Canada’s top para-badminton athletes.” 

Beals brings decades of experience as both an athlete and coach to the role. Originally from Cherry Brook, Nova Scotia, Beals has been a passionate contributor to badminton across multiple levels—from grassroots development to high-performance leadership. 

Mike Whitehead inducted into The Windsor/Essex County Sports Hall of Fame 

Six-time Paralympian wheelchair rugby player Mike Whitehead is among eight additions to the Windsor/Essex County Sports Hall of Fame.

Whitehead was a mainstay on Team Canada for 24 years earning two silver medals and a bronze at the Paralympics.

He also competed at six world championships (1 gold, 1 silver & 2 bronze) and three Parapan Am Games (1 gold, 2 silver). In his later years with the team, he took on a mentorship role with his younger teammates by sharing his experiences and knowledge of the sport.

‘’Mike was a great teammate,” said veteran Patrice Dagenais. ‘’He had a positive impact on and off the court for myself and many other athletes in our program.’’