Gregory Jablonski

Gregory Jablonski

Gregory George Jablonski, age 89, of the StoryPoint community in Waterville, died on Saturday, February 10, 2024, at Promedica Flower Hospital. Born November 30, 1934, in Selkirk, Manitoba to Peter and Marion Jablonski, Greg grew up on the cold prairie, and began skating on a slough behind his house at the age of 13, when his uncle gave him a pair of oversized skates. His fluid skating stride, learned from edging around cattails, led to a tryout with a junior team despite having never played organized hockey. He was immediately signed and a lifelong love affair with the sport began.

The Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League took notice of his skills, signing Greg to a contract. He was a member of the Kelowna (B.C.) Packers team that advanced to the finals of the Allen Cup, symbolic of supremacy in senior hockey. Greg turned pro with Omaha of the International Hockey League in 1960, and moved to Toledo, when the franchise was relocated to become the Toledo Blades in 1963. He helped lead the Blades to Turner Cup championships in 1964 and 1967. In total, Greg played 10 seasons in his adopted hometown as captain or alternate captain with the Blades and Hornets and remains the all-time scoring leader in Toledo hockey history, finishing with 646 points in 742 games. His legacy was honored in 2017, with his induction into the Toledo Hockey Hall of Fame. Known as a gentlemanly player who played hard both ways, Greg never recorded more than 18 penalty minutes in a season. All of Greg's children followed in his footsteps as hockey players. Bobby, who passed away from cancer in 1977 at 17 years of age, was a forward and goaltender at Whitmer High School. Dean, a winger, skated at Whitmer, with his father as his coach. Pat was a goaltender for five teams in the National Hockey League and Jeff, a winger, was an NCAA champion at Lake Superior State University, and a member of the 1993 ECHL Riley Cup champion Toledo Storm.

After retirement, Greg proudly worked for more than 30 years with Gradel, Inc., as a heavy machinery operator.

The other love of Greg's life was his wife, Monica, a professional figure skater who was a member of the Ice Follies chorus line, and who taught private lessons at Sylvania Tam-O'Shanter. The pair married on August 30, 1958, after she told him, "You're the one for me." Monica passed away in 2010.

Greg is survived by his sons; Dean and his daughter, Ashley; Jeff, his wife Kim and their children, Jordyn, Jessica (Matt) Bohman, Madelynn and Maximos; and Pat and his wife, Melany, and their children, Olivia and Onna. Greg was preceded in death by Monica and son, Bobby. The family will welcome friends on Saturday from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Walker Funeral Home, 5155 Sylvania Ave. (west of Corey Rd.), with a celebration of his life beginning at 11:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donors choosing. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.walkerfuneralhomes.com

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