P. K. Subban, the charismatic black hockey player who’s become one of the stars of Montreal’s team, Les Canadiens, made a huge donation to the Children’s Hospital today.
At a press conference this morning, in the newly-built Children’s wing of the health centre, P. K. Subban thanked the legendary hockey team for hiring him and putting him in the position to be able to make the $10 million Cdn, donation, the largest ever made in Canada by an athlete.
“Montreal has become my second home,” said Subban, who was born in Toronto. “I hope to remain here, here in Montreal, here in Quebec, for a very, very long time.” Subban, 26, has played for the Canadiens, also known as “The Habs” since 2009.
The $10 million from the hockey player’s foundation, will be paid out over seven years, and used in part for a fund called P.K.’s Helping Hands, which will help families struggling financially with a child’s illness.
The official announcement was made at the hospital today, but Subban missed the start as he was stuck in traffic. When he eventually did arrive it was to a standing ovation and shouts of “P.K.! P.K.!” from the large crowd gathered in the atrium, that now bears his name.
“As I was walking out of the backroom, I noticed the P.K. Subban lettering up there and I got goosebumps,” Subban said pointing to his name. It’s not too many times I get goosebumps in what I do playing hockey for a very long time in front a lot of people. That’s probably the only time I got goosebumps in a long time.”
He went on to share the insight gained on a trip he took to Haiti shortly after the 2010 earthquake and how the experience shaped his perception of his path in life. “When I came back to Canada, I made a point to myself that I wasn’t going to allow my profession to dictate how I live my life,” he said.
Following in the footsteps of his hockey hero, Jean Beliveau, Subban has been quietly visiting children at the hospital for the past few months, Martine Alfonso, the associate executive director of the Montreal Children’s Hospital said.
P. K. (which stands for Pernell Karl, though he once told a team mate it stood for ‘Penalty Killer’) is the eldest of 5 children born to Karl and Maria Subban in Toronto. He began watching the game and playing it with his father at the age of 4.
His immigrant parents had adopted the game at different times. His mother originally from Montserrat, arrived in Hamilton, Ontario. It was not until she witnessed her son’s amazing stickhandling that she became a hockey-mom. His father’s family had moved from Jamaica, to the northern Ontario city of Sudbury. His love of hockey, and the Montreal Canadiens, was almost instant.
Tomorrow it’s back to training camp for Subban, to get ready for the next season of the storied Habs.
The team provided Montreal, a city mad for hockey, renewed hope last year when they managed to gel as a team, and with great performances from several members, had a good run into the play offs. Go Habs Go!
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