Parker: an inspiration to many

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

Strathmore High School student Parker Petruska has had a positive outlook on life and has not let cerebral palsy get in the way of his favourite things in life – especially when it comes to him playing hockey. However, unlike most hockey players, Petruska has overcome numerous obstacles and requires the use of a wheelchair to partake in his favourite sport.
“Parker’s a special kid and ever since he came to the high school a couple of years ago,” said Strathmore High School’s Vice Principal and Bisons assistant coach Doug Raycroft. “He’s kind of had a special bond with all the Hockey Academy and Bison players because he loves the game so much
“Anytime that kids talk to him about hockey, he just lights up. There’s an immediate connection there and when you talk to Parker, he may have some limitations but it’s not in his mind and soon as the kids realize that, it brings out the better qualities in them.”
Petruska, who is 18 and started playing hockey seven years ago, eat, sleeps and breathes the sport.
This season has been the most memorable one for him as he played for the Calgary Power Hockey League with the Knights and they won the regular season title but fell short by a goal in overtime in the final.
He was runner up for Playoff MVP and was positive about his team’s play all season.
“We played good together and played hard as a team,” said Petruska.
He was very instrumental throughout the season to the UFA Bisons as he would do laundry twice a week after practice, and leave encouraging words that he would come up with himself on the room’s whiteboard.
“He’s a pretty tough guy and he really enjoys interacting with people, even though it’s hard for him sometimes,” said Raycroft. “That’s something that’s going to help him through time because people want to be around him, deal with him, want to work with him.”
The commitment from the students to Parker has been encouraging in itself and continues to grow.
“It just happened, the kids really took to him naturally, so it wasn’t like you have to meet with Parker and do anything,” Raycroft. “Everything they’ve done for Parker has been totally on their own.”
Petruska plans to start up a little business in the summer to collect used sports equipment by donation.
He then will organize them into bags and if there is a piece of equipment missing, he will then try to replace the item.
There will be a bin set up at various hockey camps throughout the summer for drop off.
For more information on where to drop off the equipment, you can contact Michelle Bishop via e-mail (mbishop6@telus.net).