ST. LOUIS PARK — A Minnesota high school hockey player paralyzed on the ice nearly two months ago has made a surprise visit to his teammates.

Sixteen-year-old Jack Jablonski visited his Benilde-St. Margaret’s teammates on Thursday night just before the team opened the playoffs against Holy Family Catholic school of Victoria.

Jablonski surprised his Red Knights teammates in the locker room of the St. Louis Park Recreation Center. It’s the same arena where a check from behind in a Dec. 30 game left him paralyzed.

It was the first time Jablonski had been back in an arena with his teammates since the accident.

Coach Ken Pauly saidthat Jablonski “wanted to be part of it.”