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Jack Jablonksi Inspiring Los Angeles Jr. Kings On And Off The Ice PHOTOS BY USA Hockey Tournament Photographers; Getty Images by SEAMUS KELLEY 24 // APRIL 2023 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM COME- BACK KINGS COME- BACK KINGS COME- BACK KINGS T HE LOS ANGELES JR. KINGS are no strangers to comebacks. At the 2023 Chipotle-USA Hockey Youth Tier I 15O National Championship, the Jr. Kings twice came back from two-goal deficits in the third period to win in overtime, including the 3-2 OT win in the championship game. As improbable as that was, Jack Jablonski, the team's video coach, has an incredible comeback story of his own. For Jablonski, coaching represents an opportunity to stay con- nected and involved with the game he loves. On December 30, 2011, Jablonski suffered a severe spinal cord injury during a Minnesota high school hockey game, leaving him para- lyzed. Despite the career-ending injury, it wasn't the end of Jablonksi's involvement with the sport he loves. He accepted a coaching role with his Benilde-St. Margaret team, and not even three months later they went on to win the Minnesota Class 2A state title. Over a decade later, coaching is still incredibly rewarding for Jablonski as he helped guide the Jr. Kings to their first-ever 15O national title alongside head coach Brett Beebe. The Jr. Kings fin- ished with a 5-1 record, highlighted by a comeback win against the R.I. Saints in the quarterfinals, and then another come-from-behind win over Shattuck-St. Mary's in the title game. "When I was injured at 16, I still wanted to be a part of the game," said Jablonski. "Having this game taken away from me on the ice, this has been the next best thing. Being able to develop and coach these guys and see that click in their eyes has been super rewarding." Jablonski is in his third season with the Jr. Kings. He attends or watches all the games and practices and works with players in one- one-one video sessions. "If he notices that one of our kids isn't playing up to their potential, he will be like, 'Hey, let's do some video and let's talk,' Beebe said. "Sometimes those talks are about hockey, and sometimes they're about other things. He just puts a lot of things into perspective for you." The attention to detail, along with Jablonski's ability to connect with the players on the team and offer them a new perspective paid off immensely at Nationals. "Having Jack as a resource to be able to do the video work and teach that side of the game is massive," said Beebe. "On the personal side, just the kind of person he is and the kind of influence he is on the kids, whether he was in a wheelchair or not, and whether he was out there on the ice with us or not, he'd be a guy that I'd want to have here anyway because of how knowledgeable he is and how positive he is. He has just a unique outlook on things." Trust between coach and athlete is crucial, Jablonski explained. "Building that trust is important," he said. "Both from a personal perspective, as well as a hockey perspective." Not only did Jablonksi earn the respect of his players, but he also learned eye-opening things from them too. "The dedication, commitment, and sacrifices, especially com- pared to me growing up in Minnesota is insane," said Jablonski. Jablonski's hockey journey is about as unique as it gets, with the LA Jr. Kings squad getting a mentor, coach, and role model helping lead them." P k Jack Jablonski did not let a severe spinal cord injury in 2011 keep him away from the game he loves.