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Manitoba basketball player moved out of ICU

By: Geoff Kirbyson

Posted: 02/14/2011 2:29 PM | Comments: 0 (including replies) | Last Modified: 02/14/2011 6:57 PM | Updates

Canada Games athlete Kyle Bunskoek (SPORT MANITOBA)

HALIFAX - Team Manitoba says a wheelchair basketball player who became seriously ill at the Canada Winter Games has been moved out of intensive care at a Halifax hospital.

Kyle Bunskoek, 16, of Stonewall was rushed to hospital on Saturday. The nature of the injury hasn't been disclosed but the chief medical officer for the Games said Sunday it is not related to sports and is non-contagious.

Officials initially declined to identify the athlete and the sport he plays, but Team Manitoba said Monday night it now has the permission of Bunskoek's father. Wally Bunskoek said in a release that he is overwhelmed and grateful to the doctors and nurses at the Halifax Infirmary, the Halifax Canada Games Host Society and Team Manitoba for the care his son has received.

"He's been treated like family by people he doesn't know."

After a rescheduling of games to accommodate the needs of the Manitoba wheelchair basketball team, the team played two games in the absence of Bunskoek on Monday, losing 67-50 to P.E.I. before defeating Nova Scotia 66-37.

Bunskoek, who has been competing in wheelchair basketball for three years, is one of four players in the 4.5 class on Team Manitoba. That means he is essentially able-bodied in terms of pushing his wheelchair, catching and throwing. Bunskoek reportedly has a minimal case of cerebral palsy.

The greater the disability, the lower a player’s number. The range is from 0.5 to 4.5.

Each wheelchair basketball team is allowed five players on the court at a time. Combined, their class numbers can’t be more than 15. For example, if there are three 4.5 players on court, the two remaining players can’t total more than 1.5.

geoff.kirbyson@freepress.mb.ca

History

Updated on Monday, February 14, 2011 at 6:57 PM CST:
Update with move out of ICU

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