Benilde honors Jack Jablonski, hangs No. 13 from the rafters

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    Jack Jablonski's number now hangs in the rafters at the St. Louis Park Recreation Center.

    Benilde-St. Margaret's retired Jablonski's No. 13 Saturday – his jersey number has become a symbol for his recovery and spinal cord injuries since he was paralyzed in a junior varsity game in December 2011.

    "It's obviously something I never expected," Jablonski told FOX Sports. "It means a lot. It shows the impact I've been able to have on the coaches and our players as well."

    Jablonski is currently an assistant coach at Benilde-St. Margaret's and plans to enroll at the University of Southern California in January, where he got a scholarship for physically challenged athletes attending USC, Benilde said in a news release.

    The school says Jablonski "has inspired many by his demeanor, rehabilitation work and good nature in the face of adversity." Benilde has also renamed their "most determined player award" in his honor.

    Since his injury, Jablonski has made remarkable improvements in his recovery while becoming a voice for people with spinal cord injuries. FOX Sports says his Be13ve in Miracles Foundation has awarded $100,000 in research grants and Activity Based Locomotor Exercise (ABLE) scholarships.

    "I'm definitely optimistic about the future," Jablonski told FOX Sports. "At the same time, I'm a realist. I know in two weeks I'm not going to get up and walk."

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    Jablonski's number now hangs with Benilde and Boston College players Andrew Alberts and Joe Schuman, whose numbers were also retired, SB Nation notes.

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    According to family, the Benilde-St. Margaret's sophomore is getting stronger and will begin rehabilitation soon. Jablonski is sitting up in a specialized chair and moving his arms below the triceps. The 16-year-old hockey player was checked from behind during a junior-varsity game on December 30. Jablonski severed his spinal cord and fractured two vertebrae.

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    A handful of teammates made the special visit, including first baseman Justin Morneau. He told Fox Sports North "it was amazing to see how positive he was." The Benilde-St. Margaret's sophomore was paralyzed during a hockey game late last month. The 16-year-old hockey player is determined to walk and skate again, despite his severed spinal cord.