Nolan Koethler was half of the Lakers goaltending tandem that led the Superior International Junior Hockey League in 2025-26, helping the Lakers to their first regular-season title in a decade.
On March 20, Koethler returned home on a bye week before the playoffs. Koethler was operating a tractor on his family’s farm when a semi-truck collided with the tractor. He was thrown from the tractor and suffered broken bones in his neck and ribs and a bruised lung. In the aftermath of the accident, it was unclear whether he would walk again.
Koethler spent months in a brace, unable to walk or move his hands or body.
The months of rehab started small. Koethler had zero mobility and could not move his neck or head.
“I found myself in a very low spot,” Koethler said. “I’ve met so many friends through hockey. I have so many friends here, and I didn’t get to say goodbye. To get told I had a career-ending injury just before the playoffs was awful.”
Koethler started working with trainer Chris Davie. Starting small, they focused on stretching and strengthening the muscles in his neck, and re-learning to turn his head. Having lost over 30 pounds in the accident, Davie’s training regimen progressed to adding weights and strengthening Koethler’s legs and core.
Koethler progressed from “might never play hockey” to “might never play competitive hockey.” In August, he was medically cleared to return to Junior A hockey.
As Koethler progressed in his recovery, so did the possibility of returning to the Lakers for his final season of Junior A hockey.
Head Coach Luke Judson kept a roster spot open in the chance Koethler was able to return. He described his first day back at the rink as one of his proudest moments in hockey.
“To see him back in Fort Frances with the team and on the ice was amazing,” Judson said. “It was one of my favourite days I’ve ever had at the rink as both a player or coach.”
On Friday, Oct. 9, Koethler will return to the ice to backstop the Lakers against the Sioux Lookout Bombers. This will be his first Junior A start since March 12.
“I can’t wait to see everyone out there,” Koethler said. “I’ve been playing here for three years, so I’ve kind of become a familiar face. I can’t wait to get back into playing; I really missed it.”
Tara Allaire is a volunteer/communications coordinator for the Fort Frances Lakers
