For Kaleb Dahlgren, a journey to become better than he was before he was injured includes a stop at his old team鈥檚 home arena.
Dahlgren was a member of last year鈥檚 Humboldt Broncos squad and was on the team鈥檚 bus when it was hit by a semi-truck. Effects from the collision included fractured vertebrae, skull fractures and a brain injury.
He鈥檚 now a member of the York University Lions. They stopped at the Elgar Petersen Arena Sept. 21 as part of a tour to honour Mark Cross, an assistant coach who died in the April 6 collision.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been amazing,鈥� he said, 鈥淭he team has been very phenomenal and they鈥檝e welcomed me into their life and their family. It鈥檚 another family that I鈥檝e created and I鈥檓 very thankful to be there.鈥�
鈥淜aleb is an amazing individual, so vibrant, loves life, very positive, a selfless individual,鈥� said Russ Herrington, the Lions鈥� head coach. 鈥淗e鈥檚 very much like Mark. He鈥檚 absolutely the individual we鈥檙e trying to recruit and bring into our program.鈥�
Dahlgren began emailing the Lions last summer, even before he became a Bronco, Herrington told the Journal. Cross, a alumnus of York, became an assistant coach for the Broncos and gave the Lions regular updates 鈥� as well as a聽 incredible reference in terms of his character.
鈥淲e had made the decision right near the end of the Broncos鈥� regular season to make an offer, but I don鈥檛 extend those offers while players are still playing,鈥� Herrington said.
Then the playoffs ended in a much different way than expected.
鈥淲e still felt that we wanted to make that offer because we had made that decision that we wanted to bring Kaleb into our family before that.鈥�
Dahlgren鈥檚 injuries prevent him from having contact while out on the ice, but he still practises, works out and travels with the team.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a member of the team for every aspect except for 60-plus minutes on Fridays and Saturdays when we play games and that will remain for as long as Kaleb wants to do that. He鈥檚 made a remarkable recovery thus far and hopefully,鈥� Herrington said, 鈥渉e can get to the point where he will get medically cleared and will be ready to play.鈥�
While Dahlgren couldn鈥檛 play with the Lions while they were in Humboldt, he did practise with them, represented the team at the ceremonial face-off and made a presentation for his Diabeauties program, which features children affected by diabetes 鈥� something that Dahlgren also has.
Before the game started, Dahlgren said it meant everything to be back at the EPA.
鈥淚t鈥檚 awesome to be back in this rink and see the guys on the ice,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 wait to get back on for warm-ups. I think it will be really cool to be back on that ice and skating around, having fun and enjoying it.鈥�
The hockey player said the goal with the team this year is to be best motivator that they have this year.
鈥淚 may not be playing but I鈥檓 still an influence without playing.鈥�
Dahlgren鈥檚 also set a personal goal for himself.
鈥淢y personal goal is to come back better than I was before,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat means doing extra physio, staying on the ice extra, not taking any contact this year. Next year I鈥檓 working my way up into the line-up.鈥�
While he鈥檚 at York, Dahlgren is taking a business degree and will follow that up with an education degree.
