Injured Humboldt Broncos defenceman Ryan Straschnitzki, who lost the use of his legs in April when the bus carrying his hockey team and a semi-truck collided in rural Saskatchewan, has returned to the ice for the first time.

Just weeks after he was discharged from the Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, where he received specialized spinal treatment, the 19-year-old hit the ice two weeks ago to play sledge hockey.

And while he may be relearning a sport that he has played for virtually his entire life, Straschnitzki told CTV Calgary he was happy to be back.

鈥淲hen you鈥檙e on the ice, you have nothing to worry about,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty exciting learning a new way to play the game and I鈥檓 enjoying it.鈥�

Straschnitzki was paralyzed from the chest down when a bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos junior ice hockey team and a semi-trailer collided in Saskatchewan Apr. 6, killing 16 people and injuring 13 others.

While he has only been on the sled three times, Straschnitzki has ambitious goals鈥攖o be one of the top sledge hockey players in Canada and to one day even make the national team.

He says 鈥渂alancing鈥� is the most difficult part of the sport.

鈥淭he sled and the way you move is a lot different,鈥� Straschnitzki told CTV Calgary. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 something I have to work on.鈥�

Coach Chris Cederstrand, who lost a leg in a workplace accident in 2012, said 鈥渢he sky鈥檚 the limit鈥� for Straschnitzki in sledge hockey.

鈥淗e came out and he picked it up amazingly quickly,鈥� Cederstrand told CTV Calgary. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a kid willing to put in the time and the effort.鈥�

Straschnitzki said he鈥檚 learned more from Cederstrand than just how to master the sport.

鈥淗e鈥檚 awesome,鈥� Straschnitzki told CTV Calgary. 鈥淗e went through so much with his accident and he鈥檚 taught me to be strong and it鈥檚 not the end of the line.鈥�

With a report from CTV Calgary鈥檚 Brenna Rose