麻豆传媒入口

While driving to a friend鈥檚 house on August 19, 2024, former 麻豆传媒入口 (CSSHL) student-athlete Matthew Paranych stumbled upon a fellow driver in distress.

As the Edmonton, AB product made a south bound turn he noted a vehicle stopped in the middle of the northbound lanes and the driver slumped over the stirring wheel.

While other onlookers drove by, for what one pedestrian noted was roughly 30 minutes, the 17-year-old Paranych drove his vehicle and positioned it behind the person in the distressed vehicle.

Paranych found the driver slumped over the wheel and slightly coherent. Realizing the person was in need of medical attention he contacted 911 Emergency Service. EMS and the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) arrived on scene and provided medical treatment to the driver.

鈥淚 commend Matt on taking the initiative to help this driver. Many people would not have taken the time or are far too nervous and not equipped to come to someone鈥檚 aid,鈥� said EPS Detective Jerrid Maze.

With minimal experience in first aid training, Paranych noted the impact his hockey journey had in allowing him to stay composed in a high-pressure situation.

鈥淚 have been trained in high pressure situations throughout my journey so far in hockey. Hockey is very fast; I play my best when I鈥檓 focused and calm. So, the situation was like a game; I was calm but focused on the task at hand which was helping the woman get help,鈥� said Paranych. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 have been able to do that if it weren鈥檛 for the many valuable lessons that I have learned throughout my time in the CSSHL and WHL, and most definitely not if I wasn鈥檛 trained by a high-performance coach.鈥�

“I am not surprised that Matt would act in this manner, in the two seasons that I coached him and now in his role as an OHAE alumni, he has always demonstrated himself to be a leader with a high moral compass and high compassion” added OHA Edmonton Assistant General Manager Sean Beissel.

After three seasons in the CSSHL with OHA Edmonton and South Alberta Hockey Academy (SAHA), the defensemen is heading into his second Western Hockey League (WHL) season with the Medicine Hat Tigers.