Paralyzed hockey player Jablonski leaves hospital for rehab facility today

Jack Jablonski
Jack Jablonski lies in his bed at Hennepin County Medical Center in a Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012 photo. Jablonski was paralyzed after being checked from behind in a junior varsity hockey game on Dec. 30, 2011.
Photo courtesy Hennepin County Medical Center

The high school hockey player paralyzed by a hard hit Dec. 30 is expected to leave the hospital on Monday

Jack Jablonski, a sophmore playing for the Benilde-St. Margaret's team in a holiday hockey tournament, suffered a neck fracture that left him unable to move his legs and severely limited movement in his arms. He has been at Hennepin County Medical Center ever since.

He isn't expected to skate or walk ever again, but Jablonksi's parents wrote on his Caring Bridge web site that he will be leaving the hospital, and moving to the Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.

The hockey newspaper Let's Play Hockey reported that another injured hockey player, St. Croix Lutheran senior Jenna Privette, was discharged from HCMC on Friday evening and was also moving to a rehab facility. An on-ice incident earlier this month left her partially paralyzed.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.