Jablonski wins Courage in Sports award

November 12, 2012 at 12:38PM
Jack Jablonski joked with friend Katie Oppenheimer, 17, at a TV-viewing party held in his honor Sunday in St. Paul.
Jack Jablonski joked with friend Katie Oppenheimer, 17, at a TV-viewing party held in his honor Sunday in St. Paul. (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Jack Jablonski and his friends on Sunday watched CBS' airing of the news that he is America's Choice Honoree for the CBS Courage in Sports Awards.

Jablonski, who was paralyzed in a high school hockey game last December, won the honor after several rounds of online voting.

During each of the first three rounds, he received two-thirds of all votes cast to become one of the two remaining finalists. He said after the broadcast that it was a "great honor" to win: "It drives me to do the best that I can, knowing people are out there to support me."

Courage in Sports has honored such legends as Muhammad Ali, Hank Aaron, Arthur Ashe, Kerri Strug, Walter Payton and Cal Ripken Jr.

The Minnesota Wild hosted the party for Jablonski and friends to watch the one-hour broadcast at the team's St. Paul headquarters.

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