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Strib reports about two players checking the JV player. Now he's paralyzed -- at least temporarily.

Anyone know what penalties, if any, were given? Curious about the game circumstances leading up to the telling blow and how a repeat of such an incident might be avoided.

from keith hendrickson on mnhockeyhub.com:

Keith Hendrickson · about 17 hours ago
I watched the Thursday varsity games of this tourney...most were very competitive and physical at times. However, I commented to a few other scouts how many hits from behind were going on, some of which resulted in NO penalty. Too often, the players are out of control....yes, there is often no ill intent on many hits from behind HOWEVER the players are RESPONSIBLE for their actions. Being an accident does not make it justifiable. It is up to the player to play within control. I played a lon…g time, coached for 27 years and now do some NHL scouting....there is simply to much of this going on and much of the time it is done by a player out of control who can not let up in time to avoid hitting an opponent in the back....spinal injuries, concussions, etc are running rampant these days....it has to be cleaned up.


in the one highschool hockey game i also peronally saw this year the checking from behind by forwards hitting defensemen in their defensinve zone from behind was out of control. i would love to see this wayzata player kicked off his team by his coach. for his poor actions. checking from behind is not an accident, it is a deliberate move by an idiot forward. bottom line. i have no sympathy for the wayzata player and i hope he feels terrible. the wayzata coach needs to be held accountable for his players actions and do the right thing here.

rudy wrote:Strib reports about two players checking the JV player. Now he's paralyzed -- at least temporarily.

Anyone know what penalties, if any, were given? Curious about the game circumstances leading up to the telling blow and how a repeat of such an incident might be avoided.

Very scary. My thoughts are with this young kid and his family. Link to article:
http://www.startribune.com/local/west/136505658.html

I don't know anything about the game particulars, but I agree 100% with your concern about avoiding a repeat. The way the game is played, coached, and refereed from youth on up to pros, these incidents are like ticking time bombs. Fortunately, serious paralyzing or life-threatening injuries are relatively rare. But concussions are frequent, though not always diagnosed.

To clean up the game, it is really going to take all parties -- players, parents, coaches, referees, MSHSL, Minnesota Hockey for the youth leagues. Seems like we make a little progress, but go to any boys game and you'll see kids get hit from behind, boarded, charged, punched, slashed, checked well after he's gotten rid of the puck ("finishing the check" is a roughing penalty in USA Hockey's rulebook).

From what I see, we're a long way from a zero tolerance policy. It's more like a 75% tolerance policy -- let 75% of the illegal contact go, and call 25% just to remind everyone that referees are there. Not to blame it all on officials -- I've seen parents yelling at their sons to take somebody out, and I know certain players enjoy hitting hard, and coaches... Like I said, it's going to take all parties to clean up the game. You're never going to completely eliminate injuries from any sport, but I'd sure like to see hockey cleaned up more. Let skill (including legal, clean checks) win games.

My heart goes out to this family right now. Let's hope this boy will lace 'em up again sometime soon.

This is a very scary thing. Officials need to call this much more often. There are way too many hits from behind that I have seen as a long time High School coach that the player just got a boarding call. I have personally told officials that if my player hits from behind to call it and hold him accountable for playing like an idiot and out of control. Everyone needs to work together Coaches, Players, and Officials to prevent things like this from happening. I wish him a speedy and full recovery.

I was 20 feet away when this happened. This is the wrong time to make uninformed comments behind a internet name on this situation. This boy is gravely hurt and all our efforts should be to support all involved.
The hockey world can work on solutions later.

northern_guy- Sometimes it is, however, an accident. If the player turns at the last minute and you are already mid check, there is nothing you can do at that point. From what I hear, the Wayzata player was not intentionally out to kill anyone. There are, on the other hand, people who do intentionally hit from behind and they are the ones we should be focusing our anger towards.

Very sad and difficult situation. Prayers go out to him and his family.

philip18 wrote:I was 20 feet away when this happened. This is the wrong time to make uninformed comments behind a internet name on this situation. This boy is gravely hurt and all our efforts should be to support all involved.
The hockey world can work on solutions later.

i will not shy away from saying those who CHOOSE to hit from behind are complete iditos and have no place playing hockey. i would like to see a rule where on your 1st checking from behind its a 3 game misconduct, 2nd is another 3 game misconduct and your 3rd is out for the season. enough is enough.

The college game does a much better job of enforcing illegal hits (either from behind or to the head) than does high school. In D1 you see the refs consistently call 5 minute majors as well as game DQ's when they should, while they are relatively rare in high school. As a result - and as you would expect - there are many more dangerous hits that are taking place at the high school level. This has got to change, and I hope this tragic incident gets the full attention of the MSHSL and they insist that officials enforce what's already in the rules.

My thoughts and prayers are with the Jablonski family and I hope that Jack will eventually have a full recovery and be able to lead a normal life.

Zoogy92 wrote:Very sad and difficult situation. Prayers go out to him and his family.

Unfortunate for the young man and hope for full recovery.

No where have I heard this was a dirty play (just hockey players hustling after the puck) or the players involved have a history of such illegal hits.

I have noticed "Much Tighter" calls to the head (or region for that matter) and believe the Referees are doing a very good job.

Unfortunately accidents happen and I am sure the players involved all feel terrible. We do not need to re-invent the rules ---- accidents will continue to happen, but understand when something like this happens everyone wants to ensure proper calls are made.

I congratulate the referees for continuing to take head shots, knees, etc out of the game when they happen intentional or not.

So sad to hear this story... I hope he has a safe and speedy recovery, he'll be in my prayers.

*On a different note:* Referees and coaches should do whatever they can to eliminate checks from behind in the game, but, it is ultimately up to the player to choose NOT to turn his back to the opposing hitter and to NOT take a straight path towards the boards.

My thoughts and prayers go to him and his family.

northern_guy wrote:

philip18 wrote:I was 20 feet away when this happened. This is the wrong time to make uninformed comments behind a internet name on this situation. This boy is gravely hurt and all our efforts should be to support all involved.
The hockey world can work on solutions later.

i will not shy away from saying those who CHOOSE to hit from behind are complete iditos and have no place playing hockey. i would like to see a rule where on your 1st checking from behind its a 3 game misconduct, 2nd is another 3 game misconduct and your 3rd is out for the season. enough is enough.

I would love to see a stiffer punishment for these hits. From what I have seen, if a kid hits another from behind the officals call it cross checking, roughing or something else NOT checking from behind. The officals don't want to call the 2 and 10 so they call it something else. If the rules are changed to multipule game suspension do you think the way the officals will call it will change?

Chalk_Talk wrote:My thoughts and prayers go to him and his family.

northern_guy wrote:

philip18 wrote:I was 20 feet away when this happened. This is the wrong time to make uninformed comments behind a internet name on this situation. This boy is gravely hurt and all our efforts should be to support all involved.
The hockey world can work on solutions later.

i will not shy away from saying those who CHOOSE to hit from behind are complete iditos and have no place playing hockey. i would like to see a rule where on your 1st checking from behind its a 3 game misconduct, 2nd is another 3 game misconduct and your 3rd is out for the season. enough is enough.

I would love to see a stiffer punishment for these hits. From what I have seen, if a kid hits another from behind the officals call it cross checking, roughing or something else NOT checking from behind. The officals don't want to call the 2 and 10 so they call it something else. If the rules are changed to multipule game suspension do you think the way the officals will call it will change?

maybe offials who call it anything other than checking from behind need to be removed or hit over the head with a stick then. like i said, enough is enough. i hope this BSM players life isnt changed forever and that this is just temporary.

northern_guy wrote:from keith hendrickson on mnhockeyhub.com:

Keith Hendrickson · about 17 hours ago
I watched the Thursday varsity games of this tourney...most were very competitive and physical at times. However, I commented to a few other scouts how many hits from behind were going on, some of which resulted in NO penalty. Too often, the players are out of control....yes, there is often no ill intent on many hits from behind HOWEVER the players are RESPONSIBLE for their actions. Being an accident does not make it justifiable. It is up to the player to play within control. I played a lon…g time, coached for 27 years and now do some NHL scouting....there is simply to much of this going on and much of the time it is done by a player out of control who can not let up in time to avoid hitting an opponent in the back....spinal injuries, concussions, etc are running rampant these days....it has to be cleaned up.


in the one highschool hockey game i also peronally saw this year the checking from behind by forwards hitting defensemen in their defensinve zone from behind was out of control. i would love to see this wayzata player kicked off his team by his coach. for his poor actions. checking from behind is not an accident, it is a deliberate move by an idiot forward. bottom line. i have no sympathy for the wayzata player and i hope he feels terrible. the wayzata coach needs to be held accountable for his players actions and do the right thing here.

You have been to one high school hockey game this year? you sure have a lot of credibility. Many times these hits are because of players turning their backs at the last possible moment. You are crazy to think the wayzata kid should be punished any more than a penalty on the ice. If this kid doesn't get hurt during the play there is probably no penalty. You weren't at the game so you're taking the Star Tribune as your credible source? come on man, wise up. Checking from behind is often an accident....? how can you say all of this? You're calling a high school kid an idiot forward? You need to re-read what you just posted and figure out that you are the idiot Northern_guy.

I will back the northern idiot on this one.

We are not talking about the old-fashioned hip check rubbing a guy out along the boards.

I object to players taking a perpendicular path to the boards and having the referee call something lesser.

Seems to happen every game, so the refs and coaches' bosses need to be called and called until somebody loses his job.

Doesn't matter if the BSM game fits the above description, or not ...

the resulting passion has to be used to clean up the dirt usually swept under the rug.

reaper wrote:I will back the northern idiot on this one.

We are not talking about the old-fashioned hip check rubbing a guy out along the boards.

Doesn't matter if the BSM game fits the above description, or not ...

the resulting passion has to be used to clean up the dirt usually swept under the rug.

I have noticed a considerable increase in contact to the head penalties this year. What blows me away is when some of these young men react to calls as if they weren't aware it was a penalty. Could that be part of inconsistencies in calls from game to game?

On a good note, recently I observed a coach send his player straight to the locker room after his minor penalty was over. Their team was losing by a number of goals, the player had been called for at least three minors by that time, and the game had been getting chippy. Another teammate had been sent to the showers shortly before for a major and the the coach could see this player was offering little to help his team and needed to be shut down for the evening. Appreciated the coach being accountable in the situation.

First, thoughts, prayers and support to Jack and his family. He has a long road ahead of him, and hopefully the hockey community will reach deep to make sure their needs are met.

Second, not having been at the game, I would never attempt to judge what the "intent" was; keeping in mind most people want to do the right thing.

Yet, we have an unfortunate incident that has led to the possible paralysis of a high school hockey player. There is no better time to have the conversation than when the issue of safety is fresh in everyone's mind. Thank you to Keith Hendrickson and northern_guy for starting the dialogue, and speaking with a forceful voice that this cannot continue to occur.

Sadly this was not an unavoidable accident. Through enforcement, rule modification and the repetitions of coaching such occurrences could be severly curtailed.

Over 25 years ago I witnessed from 20 or 30 feet a player go sliding in to the end boards on hands and knees with a competitor on his back; both with no control over the situation. The result was the paralysis of one player, and a season ending injury for the other. Since then, I tend to cringe as I watch players speed to the goal line while racing for the puck. Often, nothing occurs, yet even one, two or three preventable injuries should be sufficient motivation to make the changes necessary.

I wish I had the answer, and would love to be able to make this right for the Jablonski family, the BSM program, and the Wayzata program, also. I assume many people are hurting right now.

Oldtimehockeyguy23 wrote:

northern_guy wrote:from keith hendrickson on mnhockeyhub.com:

Keith Hendrickson · about 17 hours ago
I watched the Thursday varsity games of this tourney...most were very competitive and physical at times. However, I commented to a few other scouts how many hits from behind were going on, some of which resulted in NO penalty. Too often, the players are out of control....yes, there is often no ill intent on many hits from behind HOWEVER the players are RESPONSIBLE for their actions. Being an accident does not make it justifiable. It is up to the player to play within control. I played a lon…g time, coached for 27 years and now do some NHL scouting....there is simply to much of this going on and much of the time it is done by a player out of control who can not let up in time to avoid hitting an opponent in the back....spinal injuries, concussions, etc are running rampant these days....it has to be cleaned up.


in the one highschool hockey game i also peronally saw this year the checking from behind by forwards hitting defensemen in their defensinve zone from behind was out of control. i would love to see this wayzata player kicked off his team by his coach. for his poor actions. checking from behind is not an accident, it is a deliberate move by an idiot forward. bottom line. i have no sympathy for the wayzata player and i hope he feels terrible. the wayzata coach needs to be held accountable for his players actions and do the right thing here.

You have been to one high school hockey game this year? you sure have a lot of credibility. Many times these hits are because of players turning their backs at the last possible moment. You are crazy to think the wayzata kid should be punished any more than a penalty on the ice. If this kid doesn't get hurt during the play there is probably no penalty. You weren't at the game so you're taking the Star Tribune as your credible source? come on man, wise up. Checking from behind is often an accident....? how can you say all of this? You're calling a high school kid an idiot forward? You need to re-read what you just posted and figure out that you are the idiot Northern_guy.

you are dead wrong...damn right i am calling the wayzata player and idiot. i am SICK of forwards doing this. they do it non stop in highschool cause the penalty is literally nothing. nothing enrages me more than checking from behind, and then people like you defending it as an accident. you cant fight in high school hockey but you can paralyze people by cheap shots from behind. how can you defend these actions...you live in fantasy land and you think this problem will go away if you ignore it.

northern_guy wrote:

Oldtimehockeyguy23 wrote:

northern_guy wrote:from keith hendrickson on mnhockeyhub.com:

Keith Hendrickson · about 17 hours ago
I watched the Thursday varsity games of this tourney...most were very competitive and physical at times. However, I commented to a few other scouts how many hits from behind were going on, some of which resulted in NO penalty. Too often, the players are out of control....yes, there is often no ill intent on many hits from behind HOWEVER the players are RESPONSIBLE for their actions. Being an accident does not make it justifiable. It is up to the player to play within control. I played a lon…g time, coached for 27 years and now do some NHL scouting....there is simply to much of this going on and much of the time it is done by a player out of control who can not let up in time to avoid hitting an opponent in the back....spinal injuries, concussions, etc are running rampant these days....it has to be cleaned up.


in the one highschool hockey game i also peronally saw this year the checking from behind by forwards hitting defensemen in their defensinve zone from behind was out of control. i would love to see this wayzata player kicked off his team by his coach. for his poor actions. checking from behind is not an accident, it is a deliberate move by an idiot forward. bottom line. i have no sympathy for the wayzata player and i hope he feels terrible. the wayzata coach needs to be held accountable for his players actions and do the right thing here.

You have been to one high school hockey game this year? you sure have a lot of credibility. Many times these hits are because of players turning their backs at the last possible moment. You are crazy to think the wayzata kid should be punished any more than a penalty on the ice. If this kid doesn't get hurt during the play there is probably no penalty. You weren't at the game so you're taking the Star Tribune as your credible source? come on man, wise up. Checking from behind is often an accident....? how can you say all of this? You're calling a high school kid an idiot forward? You need to re-read what you just posted and figure out that you are the idiot Northern_guy.

you are dead wrong...damn right i am calling the wayzata player and idiot. i am SICK of forwards doing this. they do it non stop in highschool cause the penalty is literally nothing. nothing enrages me more than checking from behind, and then people like you defending it as an accident. you cant fight in high school hockey but you can paralyze people by cheap shots from behind. how can you defend these actions...you live in fantasy land and you think this problem will go away if you ignore it.

Okay well first of all, it should be "an idiot." But seriously man you just sound like a crazy guy ranting about this stuff. Why are you so sick of forwards doing this? do defensemen not do this? The "stop sign" on the back of the jerseys in youth have an adverse effect on this issue. Kids are told growing up that no one will hit them from behind and they don't learn to protect themselves because they assume it will never happen to them. Please watch a NHL game sometime and notice how these players protect themselves when their back is against the ice. The reason it happens less in the NHL and more in high school is because of kids protecting themselves. You WERE NOT at this particular game so how you can make a judgement on this is completely RIDICULOUS. please stop bashing a kid from Wayzata that you know nothing about. If this was your kid would you tell him he's an idiot when he came home after the game? Be sympathetic to all parties here because this can literally affect this kid the rest of his life. It could happen to anyone, and it was a freak accident thing. 999 times out of 1000 this particular hit doesn't result in any injury. Please stop.

1000 check from behinds would result in a lot of injuries. Come on buddy, dont make a comment like that.

The bottom line is this is an unfortunate incident that could happen to any of our young boys and girls out there. Our thoughts and prayers go out to this young kid and his family.

Actually the penalty is a 2 minute minor and a game misconduct, so to say there's no penalty is wrong.

celly93 wrote:Actually the penalty is a 2 minute minor and a game misconduct, so to say there's no penalty is wrong.

At a minimum it needs to be a 5 minute major, plus either a game misconduct or a DQ. It's just stupid that the penalty is not even as severe as it is at the D1 level.

Unless you were at the game where the player was injured and saw the "accident" you really have no right to judge the players involved.

MNHockeyFan wrote:

celly93 wrote:Actually the penalty is a 2 minute minor and a game misconduct, so to say there's no penalty is wrong.

At a minimum it needs to be a 5 minute major, plus either a game misconduct or a DQ. It's just stupid that the penalty is not even as severe as it is at the D1 level.

Except at the HS level if you get a game misconduct, you get another additional game as well, in college you don't.

Oldtimehockeyguy23 wrote:Except at the HS level if you get a game misconduct, you get another additional game as well, in college you don't.

That's OK - there is a need for drastic action to send a message to all high school players that checking from behind and hits to the head will NOT be tolerated. Sitting out for a game is nothing compared to being in a wheelchair the rest of your life.