Riley Brinnen will be back in Kamloops this weekend when the TRU WolfPack volleyball teams host the Mount Royal Cougars in their final home games of the season.

The Kelowna native was one of three players involved in the Nov. 29 crash near the TRU east gate which killed Owyn McInnis and injured Owen Waterhouse.

Brinnen was airlifted to Vancouver General Hospital after the crash, and is currently at the GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre in Vancouver.

“Actually saw Riley last week with one of my colleagues, Scott Clark. We were down in Vancouver, so I had an opportunity to have lunch with him and get a bit of a tour of the facility,” TRU Athletic Director Curtis Atkinson said, on NL Mornings.

“It was great to be with him, great to see the progress he’s made. He’s working hard and he’s excited to be back here later this week.”

In an update on GoFundMe, Brinnen says he is into his third week at GF Strong, where he’s “learning a lot about [his] injuries and how to deal with it all.”

“It’s not easy but I’m keeping a positive attitude and getting a lot of support from family, friends, and everyone involved in my ongoing recovery,” Brinnen said. “Every visit, text, or call means a lot to me and helps pass the time while I heal.”

“I recently met Rick Hansen, the ‘Man in Motion,'”Brinnen added.

“He told me they were going to try and recruit me for wheelchair basketball, which made my dad pretty happy. Rick was extremely inspirational and I appreciated the opportunity to have a conversation with him.”

Brinnen was also able to catch up with his teammates earlier this month when the WolfPack played a pair of games in Abbotsford, against the University of the Fraser Valley.

“It was great to see them all [and] sit with them on the court to watch the games,” Brinnen said.

Atkinson is expecting it to be an emotional affair at the Tournament Capital Centre this weekend.

The men take the court at 7:15 p.m. on Friday and 4:45 p.m. on Saturday, immediately after the women’s games.

“We hope the people of Kamloops come out and help lift everyone up this weekend,” Atkinson said, noting Brinnen’s friends and family will also be in Kamloops when the WolfPack honour their graduating athletes.

“It is an opportunity, I think, to show a great deal of love and appreciation and respect for the teams and what they’ve been through this year.”

Can’t wait to welcome Riley Brinnen back home to the TCC for Senior Night this Friday. pic.twitter.com/LW2HDMASbe

— TRU WolfPack 🐺 (@GoTRUWolfPack) February 12, 2024

The 10-12 WolfPack men are two games behind the 12-10 Manitoba Bisons for the eighth and final playoff spot with two games left to play.

The 8-14 WolfPack women are also battling it out for a playoff berth. They’re in a five-way tie with the Calgary Dinos, Saskatchewan Huskies, Winnipeg Wesmen, and Mount Royal Cougars for the final postseason berth.

“Canada West volleyball is always great volleyball, but I think more importantly this weekend is an opportunity for our community to recognize these teams and what they’ve been through this year, and show them the love and support that we’ve gotten all along,” Atkinson added.

Late last month, Kamloops RCMP said they plan to recommend charges in the crash, but offered few other details.