MEDICINE HAT, AB — A hockey player injured in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash continues to make progress in recovering from his injuries.
Layne Matechuk’s family posted a video on social media on Tuesday, showing him skating on the ice and shooting a puck at a hockey rink in Colonsay, Saskatchewan.
“It was a very exciting, plus nervous time,” Kevin Matechuk, Layne’s father, told CHAT Sports over the phone. “I didn’t know how his body would react, how he was able to cope on the ice. We were worrying about having it not go so well and set him back, but it went really good. He’s got some bumps and bruises, he did have quite a few falls, but the smile on his face was worth it all.
“He did realize he has a long way to go. In his mind, I think he thought he was able to skate better than he could, but he’s excited to go back and keep working at it.”
— Kevin (@KevinMatechuk) January 8, 2019
After 9 months @LayneMatechuk returned to the rink to skate for the first time since the accident. Thank you Greg Slobosian for helping Layne. Could not be more proud of Layne! #Believe pic.twitter.com/iD8gADwvXa
— Kevin (@KevinMatechuk) January 8, 2019
Matechuck, who was drafted by the Medicine Hat Tigers in the second round in 2015, was on the Humboldt Broncos bus when it was struck by a semi on April 6. Sixteen people were killed, and 13 people were injured.
It was revealed after the crash that Matechuk spent one month in a coma. He suffered a brain injury, and was unable to speak at one point. He has been at home recovering from the collision after spending months in hospital, and is doing therapy five days a week.
“His speech is coming along, he can talk a little bit better,” Kevin said. “We still can’t fully understand him when he gets tired. When he’s well-rested, his speech is pretty clear.
“He’s getting stronger all of the time. He realizes how serious the accident was that he was in, and he just has to keep working. It’s a long process.”
Kevin says they’re hoping Layne will be able to play recreational hockey when he is fully recovered.
