Please Pray For Jabs

[Runninwiththedogs]

Re: Please Pray For Jabs

One is a probable quadraplaigic, the other is not. While their situations are similar and resulted from the same cause, the long term implications are vastly different.

And she's guaranteed to never have a complication? She's guaranteed a full quality of life?

Why are NHL players visiting one person and not the other, when they are in the SAME hospital? That's free, and doesn't take away from Jablonski. Why didn't the Wild have her number behind their bench? Also doesn't take away from him. Why is Wayne Gretzky calling Jabs and not Jenna?

I don't buy for a second the "severity of the injury" argument. There was a deluge of support for Jabs before the severity of his injury was known. So how do two players, who suffer spinal cord injuries and paralysis (because Jenna still does not have any feeling in her legs) in hockey games, receive such disparate treatment? News of Jabs' injury spread like wildfire. News of Jenna's injury spread at a glacial pace. In both cases, the initial prognoses and injuries weren't known. In fact, Jack's was presented less severely than his actual injury and Jenna's slightly more. But one person gets an explosion of support, and the other does not?

Why does someone who was part of the community response to Jabs' injury not deserve the same outreach and support? This was a litmus test for how far women's sports have come, and it just illustrates how far female athletes have yet to go. We are looking at a microcosmic representation of gender politics in sports and there is still a serious disparity. How easy it would have been to just make a tiny stride in this area, by rallying around Jenna the way people rallied around Jabs. Would it have fixed the disparity between men and women's sports? No, of course not, any culture that has something called the "Lingerie Football League" is still beyond diseased. But it would have been an encouraging sign, nonetheless.

But all anyone wants to do is stick their heads in the sand and feel good about themselves because the hockey community (and thus themselves, as a fringe member of the community as a fan) rallied around a seriously injured hockey player (who absolutely needs the support he is getting), while ignoring the apathy with which another seriously injured hockey player was treated.

 

[hockeykrazy]

Re: Please Pray For Jabs

I think you are way off track on this one. Jabs had connections with other communities. He also had connections with the NHL because he just played in a camp with some of them. Benilde-SM is one of the top 5 teams in the state. They knew him thus the support. Twitter and Facebook it went viral. There hasn't been this level of support for a player that has been hurt like this before. Don't turn this into a gender thing. There are plenty of players that in the past that didn't get any attention or much less than this girl. She has gotten much more publicity than pretty much all the ones before her except Jabs. Quit making it something it is not. It's like saying why is Kim Kardasian more popular than say Kris Humphries- no one knows, it is what it is. People have there own associations, motives and connections.

 

[hockeykrazy]

Re: Please Pray For Jabs

I also have to say that there were probably quite a few NHL scouts there for two of the top teams in the state. Plus Lou Nanne and Hal Tearse are adamant about getting the word out and using this as a tool to change attitudes coming off the checking changes implemented last year.

 

[JDUBBS1280]

I also have to say that there were probably quite a few NHL scouts there for two of the top teams in the state. Plus Lou Nanne and Hal Tearse are adamant about getting the word out and using this as a tool to change attitudes coming off the checking changes implemented last year.

The checking changes were a mistake. They need to start teaching checking earlier, not later. They need to increase the penalties for infractions and start calling them tighter.

More injuries happen in girls hockey than boys hockey (via a study done by Hockey Canada) and this has been attributed to the fact that girls aren't taught to check and take a check. So when incidental or intentional contact occurs, they aren't prepared.

They should keep checking at the Pewee level, but start teaching it in squirts (practically, they don't). They should hand out a game suspension for first infraction and progressively to up from there. Not just checking from behind, but hits to the head. They need to change the culture of the game more than anything and pushing back the checking age does nothing but push off the issue.

I love Lou Nanne, but he has affiliations with USA Hockey and he is just towing the company line on this one. There is a reason Hockey Canada looked at making this change (and conducted a study), but didn't implement a change to their checking age. Only one providence in Canada did.

Time will tell.

 

[JDUBBS1280]

I think you are way off track on this one. Jabs had connections with other communities. He also had connections with the NHL because he just played in a camp with some of them. Benilde-SM is one of the top 5 teams in the state. They knew him thus the support. Twitter and Facebook it went viral. There hasn't been this level of support for a player that has been hurt like this before. Don't turn this into a gender thing. There are plenty of players that in the past that didn't get any attention or much less than this girl. She has gotten much more publicity than pretty much all the ones before her except Jabs. Quit making it something it is not. It's like saying why is Kim Kardasian more popular than say Kris Humphries- no one knows, it is what it is. People have there own associations, motives and connections.

Completely agree.

 

[cross cheque]

Of course they wouldn't. Johnnypohlfan and crosscheque just have serious problems with me stating a fact.

Jenna deserves support just as much as Jabs does. It is disappointing to see that she hasn't gotten it, and I hope that is remedied.

If it means soooooo much to you then quit being an Internet crusader and make the calls for her, it's not that difficult to get ahold of the Wild PR team. Your problem is that you would rather stand on your moral soap box and cast stones at everyone else instead of doing the dirty work in helping this girl. You're just as guilty as everyone else.

 

[JDUBBS1280]

If it means soooooo much to you then quit being an Internet crusader and make the calls for her, it's not that difficult to get ahold of the Wild PR team. Your problem is that you would rather stand on your moral soap box and cast stones at everyone else instead of doing the dirty work in helping this girl. You're just as guilty as everyone else.

Spot on!

 

[SanTropez]

Re: Please Pray For Jabs

She would rather use her natural woman tendencies and biach and moan about it.

 

[PcFriars13]

Re: Please Pray For Jabs

I'm a woman. I think runningwiththedog's reaction is completely off base. I don't remember nearly this much attention when Derek Zike got hurt (in fact, had I not watched MTV's 'True Life' I never would have known about him.) While Derek's episode was being filmed, there was another patient at his hospital who also was injured in a hockey accident. He had a higher level of injury then Derek had, and they didn't even mention him on camera. It's not Jabs' fault his story went viral and Jenna's injury (or any other injured hockey player) did not.

Can't we just pray for their recovery instead of complain about media attention?

 

[Driftryder]

Re: Please Pray For Jabs

I'm a woman. I think runningwiththedog's reaction is completely off base. I don't remember nearly this much attention when Derek Zike got hurt (in fact, had I not watched MTV's 'True Life' I never would have known about him.) While Derek's episode was being filmed, there was another patient at his hospital who also was injured in a hockey accident. He had a higher level of injury then Derek had, and they didn't even mention him on camera. It's not Jabs' fault his story went viral and Jenna's injury (or any other injured hockey player) did not.

Can't we just pray for their recovery instead of complain about media attention?

Agreed.

 

[Hokydad]

Re: Please Pray For Jabs

Agreed.

Exactly, the media never has been and never will be the moral compass of this country. 99.9% of the hockey community is devasted for both and prays for both

 

[johnnypohlfan]

Re: Please Pray For Jabs

If it means soooooo much to you then quit being an Internet crusader and make the calls for her, it's not that difficult to get ahold of the Wild PR team. Your problem is that you would rather stand on your moral soap box and cast stones at everyone else instead of doing the dirty work in helping this girl. You're just as guilty as everyone else.

I'll throw this out there and I am 100% serious about it, but I don't expect a hypocrite like RWD to take me up on the offer.

I have a 2nd-degree connection to the manager of the Wild's PR department. I have met her once but know her father very well. If RWD is actually interested in pursuing her case, instead of hiding behind a computer and complaining about it, I'll offer to get her in contact with this person.

I won't hold my breath.

P.S. Another thought: What if Jenna had gotten hurt first and had Jack's level of injury, and had those extra days before the next injury, for the media to concentrate solely on her. Then Jack gets hurt some days later but not quite the severity of injury. Do you think that would have changed the media's coverage at all? I sure do. They jump on the "hot" item, and in this case it was Jack.

 

[DaveStPaul]

Re: Please Pray For Jabs

Exactly, the media never has been and never will be the moral compass of this country. 99.9% of the hockey community is devasted for both and prays for both

Definitely true from where I sit. I coach a Mite team (ages 7-8) in the Twin Cities. This week the regular newsletter from Minnesota Hockey arrived via email. The first article, right at the top, was, "A note from Minnesota Hockey President Dave Margenau" -- this is an open letter, available at minnesotahockey.org -- which reads,

"Minnesota hockey families,

There has been a tremendous outpouring of support from the hockey community and others for the tragically injured Jack Jablonski, Jenna Privette and their families. We encourage your continued support and prayers for Jack, Jenna and their families. Additionally, we'd ask you to keep the others players and coached involved in these incidents in your thoughts and prayers as well."

It goes on with reminders and recommendations to coaches, officials and players. Point is both injured players are remembered. Goes without saying.

The checking changes were a mistake. They need to start teaching checking earlier, not later. They need to increase the penalties for infractions and start calling them tighter.

More injuries happen in girls hockey than boys hockey (via a study done by Hockey Canada) and this has been attributed to the fact that girls aren't taught to check and take a check. So when incidental or intentional contact occurs, they aren't prepared.

They should keep checking at the Pewee level, but start teaching it in squirts (practically, they don't). They should hand out a game suspension for first infraction and progressively to up from there. Not just checking from behind, but hits to the head. They need to change the culture of the game more than anything and pushing back the checking age does nothing but push off the issue.

I think (like a lot of things) both sides are true: kids do need to be taught better, and refs do need to call the existing rules.

Embedded in the MH email was a long video (11 minutes) entitled "Body Contact and Checking Progressions for Squirts." It shows footage of correct checks and incorrect (and illegal) checks/hits from last year's tournaments, analysis and slow-mo replays of those plays, and footage from real youth practices where they're doing the kinds of drills that show you how to prepare for and get used to body contact, and how to actually use your body tactically and legally.

So, getting to your point about "They should start teaching checking in squirts" -- They explicitly talk about how the age for checking was raised to the bantams (age 13-14), and how crucial it is in the years leading up to that to teach body contact, starting with squirts.

It was really surprising to me watching the footage of the illegal hits from last year's tournament -- things like an 11 yr old tracking down a guy way after the puck had been passed, then hitting him with both hands up near the cage, knocking him to the ice; and the ref was right there and saw it and didn't call it. So there's three things going on there that are wrong:
1) officiating -- it was an illegal hit, and no call;
2) coaching / player knowledge -- either this kid's been taught to take out other players end of story, or he doesn't know how to correctly use his body to separate another player from the puck (or both);
3) tactical -- the pass went right through the defender's legs, two full strides before he hit the other kid; so he doesn't do a thing to slow down or interrupt the other team's progress up the ice, he lets an interception pass right through his hands, and to top it off he takes himself out of the play.

Who's coaching this kid, man?

Anyway, plenty of issues, on all sides. I'm still only working with 7-8 yr olds, and this is my first year as a coach; so I have all of three months experience with people who've been involved for years; they might think this is all a crock, trying to put tutus on hockey players, etc.

 

[JDUBBS1280]

Re: Please Pray For Jabs

Good post. Agree with everything. Problem is, they don't teach checking at the squirt level practically. Meaning, they talk about it, but very few teams actually practice it. Furthermore, it is a very big difference between practicing it and actually dong it in game situations. Very hard to simulate. Watching a video isn't enough. They need to actually practice the technique and use it.

The culture is the problem and that will not change because you push checking back two years. These kids think they need to destroy people to give an effective check. Not true at all. Better to teach them younger (as Squirts) and let them check in game situations as Pewees when the size difference between first and second year players is similar.

As a Minnesota Hockey coach, I'm sure I don't have to tell you that Minnesota Hockey was and is adamantly opposed to the change in the checking rule. I'm sure the recent events will force them to revisit that stance. I think many people in the MN hockey community have known for some time that the culture surrounding contact in youth hockey needs to change. I just don't think this is the best way to do it, and I believe MN Hockey agrees.

That's awesome that your coaching by the way. Good luck this year!

 

[Runninwiththedogs]

Re: Please Pray For Jabs

I think it's interesting that people assume I've done nothing. But please, continue to think so. I'll continue to reach out to people like I have been for days. The Wild, tUMD, Strib, other hockey writers (not bloggers), FSNorth. All organizations I've contacted. But please, call me names and accuse me of things. You'll do it no matter what I say.

So glad to see that now I'm somehow blaming Jabs for this. Man, people, you have to make stuff up to vilify me now? That's cute.

And, thank you for the offer, JPF, but I used my own, first-degree connection.

 

[mariucci]

Re: Please Pray For Jabs

I saw that the Herb Brooks Foundation is doing something specifically for Jenna.. Atleast I thought I read that the other day.

 

[johnnypohlfan]

Re: Please Pray For Jabs

And, thank you for the offer, JPF, but I used my own, first-degree connection.

Riiiiiiiight.

edit: Oh wait...I found the "Donation Request" page on wild.com. Now I have a first-degree connection too!

 

[hockeykrazy]

Re: Please Pray For Jabs

They are teaching correct checking technique at the Mite and Squirt levels. They gave out the red handout 2 yrs ago. They implemented it into the ADM model- each coach should add a drill that focuses on contact specifically. It is up to the coaches to include it in their practice plans/stations.
The red flags are out there and we talk about contact and protecting yourself before every game. Don't duck, head up, arms up, going into the boards at an angle vs straight on, bending knees, what to do if you fall on your back and slide etc etc
It has to be stressed and repeated over and over.
I should say that they are teaching this to the U8 and U10's(girls) also. There has been a more focused top down approach since this incident to ensure it is being carried out by all the coaches. Last practice we even received concussion what to do and check for laminated cards for each coach from our coordinator.

 

[redwing61]

Re: Please Pray For Jabs

But please, call me names and accuse me of things.

Not twelve hours earlier, accusations:

But all anyone wants to do is stick their heads in the sand and feel good about themselves because the hockey community (and thus themselves, as a fringe member of the community as a fan) rallied around a seriously injured hockey player (who absolutely needs the support he is getting), while ignoring the apathy with which another seriously injured hockey player was treated.

 

[hockeykrazy]

Re: Please Pray For Jabs

I think it's interesting that people assume I've done nothing. But please, continue to think so. I'll continue to reach out to people like I have been for days. The Wild, tUMD, Strib, other hockey writers (not bloggers), FSNorth. All organizations I've contacted. But please, call me names and accuse me of things. You'll do it no matter what I say.

So glad to see that now I'm somehow blaming Jabs for this. Man, people, you have to make stuff up to vilify me now? That's cute.

And, thank you for the offer, JPF, but I used my own, first-degree connection.

Way to turn it into a feel sorry for you fest. If you want to take positive energy and twist it into something negative then be prepared for defensive reactions.