'Just keep moving forward'

After crash ended one dream, Wassermann found a new one and pursued it all the way to Paris

- GILBERT NGABO

Former Humboldt Broncos goaltender Jacob Wassermann will represent Canada at the Paris Paralympics in PR1 single sculls. "I kind of chanced into rowing," he says.

Jacob Wassermann was lying in a Saskatoon hospital bed a little over six years ago, in a coma after a brutal road crash that killed 16 people and severely injured 13 others.

He left the hospital paralyzed from the waist down, his dream of becoming a professional hockey player — the Humboldt Broncos goaltender had been named cowinner of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s rookie of the year award a month before the crash — dashed.

The road to recovery for Wassermann was an uphill battle, physically and psychologically. He had to learn how to use a wheelchair. By the time he was comfortable, an even harder battle was raging inside him: the urge to compete again.

Wassermann had been an athlete his whole life prior to the crash, and the lack of physical activity was crushing him. He was willing to try anything just to regain that competitive feeling.

He was introduced to adaptive water skiing and found the sport freeing. He became so good that he was competing on the provincial level within a year. He also briefly tried para hockey.

Then about two years ago, Wassermann stumbled into rowing. He excelled so much that he’ll represent Canada at the Paris Paralympics in PR1 single sculls.

“I’m extremely proud to wear the Maple Leaf and represent Canada,” Wassermann said last month on a media conference call. “As long as I can remember, it’s been something that I’ve wanted to do, representing our country on a bigger stage.”