Hockey Community Rallies Behind Jablonski

For anybody that has ever been in a hockey locker room you get the feeling that it is more than just a team, it’s a brotherhood and a fraternity. Regardless of the level, all players can relate to that feeling of lacing up the skates and taking the ice. For Jack Jablonski, he may never take the ice again but he will always be apart of that brotherhood.

“He’s a hockey player. You can tell just talking to him. Guys are like that. Everyone’s the same. It’s like going into a new locker room and you’ve got 20 new best friends. That’s the way hockey is,” Minnesota Wild star Dany Heatley told the St. Paul Pioneer Press after talking with Jablonski.

Jablonksi, a sophomore at Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School in St. Louis Park Minnesota, was paralyzed in a junior varsity hockey game on December 30. Since then it seems like the entire world has stepped up to support him.

“Something like this, everyone can realize it can happen to anybody. You hate to see something like that happen, and that’s why you’re seeing guys rally around,” said Heatley.

Jablonski’s story has over taken not only the sports world in the Twin Cities but also the social media world. Countless Facebook users, hockey players and fans alike, have changed their picture to a number 13 “Jack Jablonski In Our Hearts” photo. A Jack Jablonski Facebook page was created and in less than two weeks it was “liked” by over 60,000 people. The page is littered with people sending prayers from all over the world. “Prayers from Finland,” “prayers from Northern Ireland,” “prayers from Port Charlotte, Florida”. This story is truly bringing the whole world together.

“I personally have Jack’s number 13 as my profile picture on Facebook because it reminds me of what Jack is going through right now,” said Facebook user and hockey enthusiast Nick Quandt. “This is just one of the little things I can do to help support him during this difficult time. As a former player it is an inspiration to me.”

In addition to all of the support that he has gotten on Facebook, Jack has touched even more lives on his CaringBridge page. His page has been visited by over 450,000 people while an additional 344 people have made donations in his name through the website.

After the injury doctors said that Jablonski would probably never walk again. Since the game, he has been able to move his arms, flex his elbow and move his right arm away from his body, all movements doctors initially did not think he would be able to do.

“He’s got a tremendous amount of recuperative abilities because of his young age,” his doctor told the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

This story has touched a lot of people since it became known, but the people that play the sport can relate on another level. Collegiate and professional players alike have shown up and called to give their support to Jablonski.

“As a player you try not to think the worst when you see bad hits over the years but you know it’s a possibility,” said former Elk River High School standout and current Merrimack College player Brandon Brodhag. “He’s getting great support and he is bringing the hockey world together.”

Jack has been visited but numerous current Minnesota Wild and former Minnesota North Stars coaches and players. He also received a phone call from the greatest hockey player ever, Wayne Gretzky. According to reports, Gretzky urged Jablonski to remain positive.  Danny Brooks, Herb Brooks’ son, brought his father’s gold medal to Jablonski in the hospital to remind him that miracles can happen.

Residents of Minnesota, which is known as the “State of Hockey”, have shown up in full force to support the person known as “Jabs”.  According to the Benilde-St. Margaret’s website 948 people have signed up to attend the “Jack Jablonski Junior Bronze Pond Tournament” on Lake Minnetonka last Saturday. That number is impressive considering only 30 students were originally invited.

“I had no idea it would blow up like this. I was expecting 100 people to RSVP, and now there is over 900 people in less than four days,” said Mario Zattoni, one of the tournament co-hosts, on the schools website.

The event will have an auction, entrance fee and will be accepting outside donations. All proceeds will be given to the Jablonski family in order to help pay for medical expenses.

Another Jablonski fundraiser had an interesting conclusion. During a Blaine-Wayzata high school hockey game a “Chuck-a-Puck” was organized to raise money for the family. “Chuck-a-Pucks” are not uncommon at hockey games but the person that threw the winning puck and the number assigned to that person was. For those that don’t know, “Chuck-a-Puck” is an event that happens during intermission of a hockey game in which fans throw pucks toward center ice and the puck closest to the center ice dot wins. Well, if this story didn’t have enough flare, it got it when the winning puck number was announced, and it was Jabs’ number 13.

“I walk out there, look down at center ice, and a chill ran through me,” said Mark Nowicki, the event’s coordinator, in a recent StarTribune interview.

Amazing as it is, that’s not the most unbelievable part of the story. The person that threw the winning number 13 puck was none other than the Wayzata High School player that had checked Jablonski into the boards just days before. The winning puck, as well as the proceeds, were given to Jabs a few days after the event.

While fighting his battle, it appears as if Jabs has kept a positive attitude. After being able to move his arms he was heard asking his mother “Alright, when can I strap up my skates?” according to KAAL TV reports.

Keep fighting Jabs.

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Andrew Isenberg, (a.isenberg10@gmail.com), is a freelance sports writer who lives in the Twin Cities.

Miracle Man Tebow leads Denver to Playoffs

When Drew Brees’ name is entered in a Google search it comes up with 1.73 million results. And why shouldn’t it? Brees is finishing one of the greatest seasons in National Football League history. He just broke Dan Marino’s 27 year-old record for passing yards in a season. His career awards include NFL Comeback Player of the Year, NFL Offensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl Most Valuable Player.

In Contrast to Brees, when Denver Broncos’ quarterback Tim Tebow’s name is entered in Google his name comes up with 219 MILLION results. That’s over 126 times more than Brees. Tebow has two NFL awards to his name, both Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week awards he received in 2010.

The easiest way to explain the discrepancy between the two searches: Tim Tebow is a phenomenon. Tebow is bigger than the game.

For instance here is a stat line from one of his starts this season: 2-8 for 69 yards and a touchdown. That game was one of the lead highlights on ESPN’s SportCenter that night. Most NFL quarterbacks would call that a tough quarter.

That game, as much as any, fueled Tebow fans and Tebow haters alike. It was a 17-10 win versus division rival Kansas City. The Chiefs game was Tebow’s fourth start of the season. A season in which Tebow lead the Broncos to a 7-1 record after he took over as the starting quarterback.

Tebow supporters would point out the fact that he took a listless 1-2 team and led them to the top of the AFC West while throwing 10 touchdowns compared to two interceptions in the aforementioned 7-1 start.

Tebow doubters might point out that he still has a career completion percentage of below 50 percent and his throwing motion and style of play are not exactly prototypical of an NFL quarterback.

“That elongated delivery and the fact he had to take snaps under center on full display for everybody to see and it brought to light all the negatives,” NFL draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. told the Orlando Sentinel after Tebow’s predraft workout.

Tebow, one of the most decorated college athletes in NCAA history, came into the NFL as a big question mark at the quarteback position. At the University of Florida he played in the spread offense, which the quarterback lines up in the shotgun and utilizes the horizontal passing game rather than the vertical passing game which many professional scouts prefer. Tebow was also a master at running Urban Meyer’s read option offense, which Tebow would have the option of giving the ball to the running back or holding on to it to run. Both offenses have proven to be very successful in the college game but typically quarterbacks in those systems do not translate very well to the professional game.

Kiper projected Tebow to be taken anywhere from the second to the fourth rounds…as a halfback.

“If you draft him as an H-back and you make him your Wildcat quarterback and use some versatility, fine. You don’t draft a Wildcat quarterback in the second round,” said Kiper.

Through the first season as a full time starter it looks as if Tebow is making Kiper eat his words.

“”I’m just going to compete, go in there and get some playing time and just get better. Be part of a franchise and a great organization. That’s what I’m excited about,” Tebow told the USA Today after being taken with the 25^th selection in the first round by the Denver Broncos.

Tebow competed so well he convinced the Broncos front office to part ways with incumbent starter Kyle Orton and implement Tebow as their leading man. Not only did they trade away their starter, but they traded away their offense.

With Tebow at the helm Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy added packages to his offense to suit Tebow’s unique abilities.

“We had done some option stuff last year with Tim so I knew the basics. But it was like I was in second grade just learning some things. As the weeks went on, we kept building off it,” McCoy told FOXSports.com about trying to add the option offense to the NFL.

So far there is not enough of a sample size to be definitive if the option or spread offense can work in the NFL. Nor can anyone be sure if Tebow can keep up the blazing hot start he’s had to his career, but Tebow’s early success gives hope to countless option quarterbacks that may be looking at being forced to another position at the next level.

Tebow’s talents are not just limited to the option offense. When forced to throw the ball in crunch time Tebow has been unmistakably clutch. Almost resembling Brees with his abilities to put the ball up in the fourth quarter. Over that 7-1 stretch the Broncos were either tied or trailing in six of the eight games. In the fourth quarter and overtime this season Tebow has a 56 completion percentage and a quarterback rating of 91.7.  This has led football fans in Denver and across the nation to refer to end of Denver game minutes as  “Tebow Time” and the young QB as “Miracle Man.”

Tim Tebow Highlights Video

“Where Tim has really done a great job is, because of the person he is, the team is not waiting for bad things now. It’s, ‘Who’s going to make something good happen?’ and having that confidence to be able to make it happen,” Broncos executive vice president and NFL Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway told FOXSports about his current quarterbacks ability to make plays when it matters most.

Even the doubters are having a tough time arguing with the results these days. Why not jump on the bandwagon? But be aware…it’s getting pretty full (just check Google). America is just having a tough time turning away from this feel good story.

Says Tebow “They’re going to get my heart and soul and everything that comes with me.”

–Andrew Isenberg