Chase Petruska - Creating Opportunity Through Powerchair Sport
Chase Petruska is a leader in adaptive sport, serving as a coach, researcher, and founder of the Lethbridge Powerchair Sports Association. Inspired by the impact of powerchair hockey on athletes’ confidence and independence, he has expanded access to adaptive sport opportunities across southern Alberta. His work continues to strengthen inclusive sport while advancing research on the health benefits of adaptive powerchair sports.
A Leader Defining the Program
In 2018, Chase Petruska began volunteering in adaptive sports by coaching his brother in powerchair hockey with the Calgary Powerchair Hockey League. Since then, he has been involved with numerous organizations; Powerhockey Canada (2025) as an assistant coach, Alberta Cerebral Palsy Sports Association (2023) as a vice President and coach, and Lethbridge Powerchair Sports Association (2022) as a founder, president and coach.
“I saw firsthand the impact sport had on their confidence, independence, and social connection,” he said “That experience brought me close not only to my brother, but to every player in the league”. This led him to start the Lethbridge Powerchair Sports Association in 2022, so individuals in southern Alberta would have the same access to adaptive sport opportunities.
A Deep Sense of Fulfillment
In Chase’s first year coaching a powerchair hockey travel team, he and his team were in a tournament in London, Ontario. With many of their top players unable to attend, they entered the tournament as clear underdogs, losing most of the games by five or six goals.
“In one game, however, we took a 1-0 lead late in the third period. Our goalie made several incredible saves, and we held on to win 1-0. When the final buzzer sounded, the players swarmed the floor in celebration. Even though it was only a round robin game, it felt like a championship”, he said.
Chase went on to explain, “Our goalie, an individual who had experienced a stroke more than twenty years earlier, had just earned the first shutout in our travel team’s history. He rushed toward me in his powerchair, arms in the air, yelling with pure joy. Seeing him happy like that made me very emotional, even to the point of tears, knowing everything he and his teammates had overcome”.
These athletes face immense challenges every day due to their physical disabilities, yet they show up, support one another, and play their hearts out. In that moment, they were not celebrating something given to them, but something they earned together.
“That moment captures why I dedicate so much time and energy to powerchair sports,” he said.
Driven by Purpose and Passion
“Seeing the resilience, determination, and strength of these athletes made me realize they deserve far more attention and support than they often receive,” Chase said. He then noted the lack of research focused on improving their quality of life, so he decided to pursue research to help fill that gap.
Powerchair sports has fundamentally shaped Chase's professional path. He began researching the biological, psychological, and social health of individuals with physical disabilities, as well as the impact of adaptive powerchair sports participation.
“On a personal level, volunteering has given me purpose and perspective,” he said.
It reminds him every week why access to sport matters, and why creating inclusive, community-based opportunities can change lives, especially those who often do not have access to sport opportunities.
Posted February 3, 2026
