Perched on the second-floor courtyard of his Hermosa Beach condominium complex—where a glimpse of the Pacific Ocean is possible if one cranes their neck—Jack “Jabs” Jablonski sits in his wheelchair, tapping furiously on his laptop. It’s a safe bet he’s writing about hockey, the sport that has shaped nearly every chapter of his life.
Like many Minnesotans, Jack took to the ice early—skating by age 2 and playing organized hockey by 5. The sport defined him from the start.
Everything changed on December 30, 2011, when tragedy struck during a high school hockey game. In a single moment, Jack went from a rising athlete to a hospital patient with a severed spinal cord, suddenly facing life as a quadriplegic instead of on the ice.
Being told he would never walk—let alone play hockey—might have broken most people. But Jack responded differently. Whether driven by his competitive instincts (he was also a baseball, tennis and golf player), unwavering support from family and friends or sheer force of will, he defied medical expectations.
“The South Bay—especially Hermosa and Manhattan Beach—is very much a hockey world. There’s a sense of community you don’t find in most of L.A.”
Doctors once predicted he would never move the left side of his body again. He proved them wrong long ago.
Despite needing 24-hour assistance, Jack leads an active and social life in Hermosa: concerts, the beach and everything the South Bay has to offer. Unlike most who move to Southern California for the sunshine and surf, Jack’s relocation was a matter of necessity.
“I lost the ability to control my body temperature,” he explains. “Anything below 60° and sunny, and I start to tighten up.”
The weather was only part of the draw. He enrolled at the University of Southern California, drawn by its strong academics and a scholarship from the Swim With Mike Foundation, which supports physically challenged athletes.
At USC, Jack landed an internship with the Los Angeles Kings, the iconic NHL franchise, working in communications. Upon graduation, he joined the organization full time as a digital media content specialist and podcast analyst—staying close to the sport that had defined him since he first laced up skates as a toddler.
When it came time to find a home, the South Bay was the obvious choice, with the Kings’ headquarters in El Segundo, his specialized rehab center in Lawndale and the ocean nearby. He moved to Hermosa Beach four years ago and never looked back.
“The South Bay—especially Hermosa and Manhattan Beach—is very much a hockey world,” Jack says. “A lot of players and coaches live here. There’s a sense of community you don’t find in most of L.A.”
Grateful for the support he received—from family, friends and scholarships—Jack wanted to pay it forward. He founded the Jack Jablonski Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing research and treatments to improve life for people living with paralysis. The foundation has funded promising studies, including groundbreaking epidural stimulation research at the Mayo Clinic that’s showing remarkable potential.
To date, the foundation has raised an impressive $4.5 million, supporting galas, pickleball events and celebrity golf tournaments in both Minnesota and California—all fueling research that continues to redefine what’s possible for those with severe spinal injuries.
Jack speaks with the poise of someone who has told his story many times—through TED Talks, interviews and panels—but his confidence seems innate. He is intelligent, articulate and passionate, radiating purpose through his words and actions.
When asked how he defines himself, Jack is strikingly humble: “I consider myself lucky because of the support I received immediately after my injury. Because of the opportunities I was given, I couldn’t fall into a negative mindset. It pushed me to make people proud.”
His attitude is summed up in the tattoo on his left forearm: I understand my injury. I don’t accept it.
During the pandemic, isolation brought a different kind of reckoning. In 2022 Jack came out as gay to his family, friends and colleagues—a brave step in the traditionally straight, male-dominated world of sports. As with everything else, he emerged stronger, more open and truer to himself. “True to himself” might as well be the motto he lives by.
After a decade with the Kings, Jack recently launched a media venture tentatively titled Trading Jabs—a nod to his name and his spirited perspective on the game. His goal: to build a sports media brand centered on hockey, producing podcasts, analysis and digital storytelling that reflect his voice, insight and love of the sport.
“It put the pressure on me to get healthy and find my future,” he says.
True to form, Jack is doing just that. Learn more about his foundation at jablonskifoundation.org.
Holiday Wish List 2025
Our annual holiday gift guide highlights the latest trends in fashion, jewelry and home goods available at local retailers for all of your gifting needs. Don’t let the season’s best and brightest pass you by!
