Rod Crane

Impairment information

Type of Impairment

Spinal Cord Injuries

Origin of Impairment

Acquired

Further personal information

Residence

Meaford, ON, CAN

Languages

English

Sport specific information

When and where did you begin this sport?

He began playing able-bodied ice hockey at about age six. He took up Para ice hockey in 2014 in Elmvale, ON, Canada.

Why this sport?

He was an ice hockey player and fan before his accident. "I spent my whole childhood at the hockey rink, and to be able to get out there again and do what I love to do after such a traumatic incident is just incredible."

Club / Team

Elmvale Bears: Canada

Name of coach

Ken Babey [national], CAN

Preferred position / style / stance / technique

Defence

International debut

Year

2019

Competing for

Canada

Opponent

United States of America

Tournament

World Championships

Location

Ostrava, CZE

General interest

Nicknames

Milk Bag [given to him by Canadian Para ice hockey player Anton Jacobs-Webb]. (Athlete, 09 Mar 2022)

Hobbies

Walking his dog, spending time with friends and family, reading, spending time outdoors, kayaking, hiking, travel. (Athlete, 09 Mar 2022)

Memorable sporting achievement

Competing at the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing. (Athlete, 09 Mar 2022)

Most influential person in career

His father Eric. (Athlete, 09 Mar 2022)

Hero / Idol

Canadian wheelchair racer Rick Hansen. (Athlete, 09 Mar 2022)

Sporting philosophy / motto

"Quit thinking about it and do it. I thought about hockey from the day it happened, and it took me four years to try it." (collingwoodtoday.ca, 27 Feb 2018)

"If you aren't first, you're last." (Athlete, 09 Mar 2022)

Other sports

He has competed in Para alpine skiing in Canada. (collingwoodtoday.ca, 27 Feb 2018)

Impairment

He sustained a spinal cord injury in March 2010 after attempting a backflip on a trampoline. His injuries resulted in incomplete paraplegia. (Hockey Canada Facebook page, 03 May 2019; Athlete, 09 Mar 2022)