ST. PAUL, Minn. — Injured teammate Jack Jablonski provided the inspiration for Benilde-St. Margaret's High School's run to the boys Class 2A state hockey tournament. But this season was not so much about a championship as it was a transformation of a school, community and several young athletes.
After the Red Knights finished off the school's third state title Saturday — a championship dedicated to Jablonski, who was paralyzed during a JV game in December — coach Ken Pauly had plenty of words to describe a trying, and at times magical, season. None of them was about the sport of hockey.
"It's been emotional. It's been psychological. It's been spiritual. It's been life-changing," Pauly said. "And those are things you can't always say about a season. There's a lot of great things you can say about a season win or lose, but life-changing? Coaches always speak in cliches about a kid growing up. You know, ‘He really grew up this year.' We're talking about, well, he got 20 more goals or he's more responsible.
"But I watched a bunch of guys in front of me really grow in a million different ways as young men in terms of caring about someone else. And not just putting words to it, putting action to it."
Jablonski, a sophomore at Benilde-St. Margaret's, had played in seven of the first nine games for the Red Knights' varsity squad but had split time between varsity and junior varsity until Dec. 30, when he was checked from behind into the boards. He broke two vertebrae and was paralyzed immediately. Doctors fused three vertebrae to protect his spinal cord from further injury, but doctors said he would never walk again.
His story became an inspiration throughout all of hockey and led to immediate rule changes for high school play in Minnesota. But the effect he had on his teammates would alter their lives forever.
The only proper way to finish off the tribute was by winning the prestigious Minnesota state boys hockey tournament. Grant Besse scored five goals, three short-handed, to lead Benilde-St. Margaret's to a 5-1 win against Hill-Murray on Saturday. The victory ended a stunning run to the Class 2A state title with Jablonski in attendance. He sat in a suite in his wheelchair, with his familiar halo still attached to his head for support. As the seconds ticked down, the student section chanted, "We saw a miracle." And as the team line celebrated on the ice, the students' added an "All for Jabby" chant.
"It's almost like it was supposed to happen, it was written to happen because of what happened," Red Knights senior Christian Horn said.
It wasn't easy. While they only lost three games after Jablonski's injury, the team went through a rough stretch emotionally. It got to the point that Pauly called in sports therapist Hans Skulstad to talk to his team.
Working through their grief was just what the players needed.
"Definitely it took a long time," Horn said. "Those first two to three weeks, going to school was weird. Being on the ice was almost like our second home. Because being on the ice was the only place we felt normal, but at the same time we were constantly reminded of what happened.
"Having that feeling at the same time, knowing it could happen to you even though it's rare, it could still happen to you. It's a bit scary. But you're playing the game you love at the same time. So, it was definitely hard, but once we saw Hans, that sport doctor, it really helped our team realize that we can compete and have fun and Jabs isn't going to feel bad for us. So, we're not going to feel bad for Jabs, we're going to battle through it with him."
And what a battle they put up on the ice. The Red Knights knocked off second-ranked Minnetonka, 5-1, in the section final to reach the state tournament. Then they beat No. 3 Edina, 3-2, in the state quarterfinals with Horn scoring the game winner with 24 seconds left.
"I think we really figured out the entire state was behind our back after that Edina win," Horn said. "Hearing that place kind of roar with those 23 seconds left really kind of opened our eyes to see people really wanted to see us win. Walking around the ‘X' and the expo and random people coming up to you saying, ‘Hey, we're rooting for you. Go get it done.' It shows how close this hockey community is and how much people really care for one kid."
Nausea kept Jablonski from attending Friday's semifinal, but his team gave him another chance to come back to the Xcel Energy Center after beating Lakeville South, 10-1, in the semifinals. With a state title in sight, Jablonski was back in his suite and joined the team in the locker room afterward to celebrate.
"We entered there and he erupted," Besse said. "We all went nuts seeing him down there."
"Jabs" or "Jabby," as he is affectionately known, is now in daily physical therapy and has gained movement in his arms. He has a long way to go, and "I want to see a miracle" has become a rallying cry for the school.
For one night, his former teammates gave "Jabs" a little miracle and put a momentary wrap on an emotional and inspirational story.
"Considering the situation, we've all just kept moving forward and it is a relief and a release all at once," Pauly said.
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