'Jack's Pledge' For Hockey Safety Honors Paralyzed Player
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Days after Jack Jablonski took a paralyzing hit during a hockey game, his parents and Minneapolis Hockey believe they've got a way to make the sport safer.
"Our position is that we all came together with the same idea, that we need to take this to a higher level to make sure that our kids are playing clean hockey," said Steve Jecha, Executive Director of Minneapolis Storm Hockey.
Minneapolis Hockey will make it mandatory for its players and coaches to take what's called "Jack's Pledge" and hopes other Minnesota hockey associations will do the same.
Minneapolis Novas Head Coach Shawn Reid will be taking the pledge. Like other coaches, he'll commit to teaching strategies that minimize risk and emphasize clean play.
"It's a horrible situation, and we're going to learn something from it," he said. "Let's be respectful of the game. Let's be respectful to each other and play the game the way it's supposed to be played."
Jack was playing for his team, Benilde St. Margaret's, against Wayzata when he was checked from behind by two Wayzata players, sending him smashing into the boards.
Jack just had surgery Wednesday for a severed spinal cord. He posted on his Facebook page that "Surgery went very well. Staying in Adult ICU for the night."
"It's your worst nightmare as a parent," his father, Mike, said at a press conference Monday at Hennepin County Medical Center. He recalled going up to his son after the hit.
Jack's parents have been vocal about their son's recovery and changing hockey rules.
"You can't run guys going 20 miles-an-hour into the boards with a stick and smash their heads into the glass," said Mike Jablonski.
On Wednesday, Jack's younger brother wore his No. 13 on the ice at a game, and teammates wore a special Jack Jablonski In Our Hearts sticker on their helmets.
Minneapolis Hockey will make it mandatory for its players and coaches to take the pledge and hopes other Minnesota hockey associations will do the same.
"The point is to get our kids to play cleaner," said Jecha. He said players commit to knowing the rules and avoid dangerous play. "We don't want to take checking out of the game of hockey. We just want it done right and just want some of the stuff going on to stop."
It's what Jack's parents believe he wants and what they hope he'll fight for himself someday.
"I don't know why this happened to him, but I feel like there's some big picture. There's some reason. And he's going to do something incredible with this," said Jack's mother, Leslie, at that press conference.
Hockey teams that take the pledge will get one of those helmet stickers those players wore at the game Wednesday night. Starting next week, Jack Jablonski #13 Be Strong bracelets will be on sale, and the money raised will go directly to Jack and his family to support his recovery.
