Portland Winterhawks forward Keegan Iverson is wearing No. 13 this season to honor fellow Minnesota high school hockey player and close friend Jack Jablonski.

Jablonski's story touched all levels of the sport last year. The 16-year-old at Benilde-St. Margaret's HS suffered a spinal cord injury last Dec. 30 in a JV hockey game.

Jablonski was checked into the boards during a game at the Holiday Hockey Classic in St. Louis Park, Minn. He was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis with a severed spinal cord at the neck and two fractured vertebrae. He has been working hard on his rehabilitation since then, trying to regain more movement.

He said he has known Jablonski from the time he was a little kid.

I decided to wear it (No. 13) for the whole year, said Iverson, who was a wide-eyed 15-year-old rookie in last seasons camp.

Hes been my best friend probably since I was three years old,'' Iverson told the Winterhawks.com website.

"Ive known him forever. Its like a tragic thing, but at the same time it motivates me. He motivates me to achieve my goals because theyre his goals, too. He wants to walk again, he wants to play hockey again and I know he can do it. So Im going to push myself to achieve his goals, too. Help him, be there for him, whatever. Represent his number.

Iverson said it was a shock to see Jablonski shortly after the injury.

I didnt know how it was going to be at first. When I first saw him in his bed, just sitting there, I had no idea. I just started crying. I didnt know what I could do. It was just a shocker for me. Now, Ill text him after games and stuff. He can text, he can do I guess full movement of both arms. He can move his wheelchair. Seeing how far hes gone is just unbelievable.

Believe in miracles, I guess. Its one of his mottos.

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Hawks' Keegan Iverson wearing No. 13 this season to honor paralyzed Minnesota high schooler

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