Number: 76 Height: 6’0” Weight: 206 Shoots: Right Born: May 13, 1989 Birthplace: Toronto, ON, CAN Drafted: MTL, 2007 Round: 2nd (43rd overall) Acquired: Draft
The Early Years
Pernell Karl Subban was born and raised in Toronto. His parents Karl and Maria both immigrated to Canada when they were 11 years old. His mother was living in Montserrat, a little island in the Antilles and his father moved from Jamaica to Sudbury, Ontario.
P.K.’s father Karl had no problem integrating the Canadian culture to his everyday life. Even if he was used to play soccer and cricket when he was a kid, he fell in love with hockey in no time. He grew up as a fan of the Sudbury Wolves, an Ontario Hockey League team. And since he was living in a francophone neighbourhood, he became a Montreal Canadiens fan, a passion he later on shared with his son PK. Back then, Karl would’ve loved to play hockey, but his parents did not have enough money to pay for the equipment he needed.
Fortunately, it wasn’t P.K.’s case. The Habs defenseman got into hockey by watching Hockey Night in Canada with his father. When he was four years old, P.K. said to his father “Dad, I want to be one of those guys on TV.” Ever since, Karl Subban did nothing but support his son in the quest of his dream. At the time, Karl Subban was an administrator at an elementary school by day and vice-principal of director of Runnymede Collegiate’s continuing education program by evenings.
Since his father was very busy, P.K. had a quite bizarre workout schedule. When Karl came back home at night, six year old PK got out of bed and joined his father in his car. They went to Nathan Phillip’s Square, where they played shinny, sometimes until 2 am. After their skating session, they used to stop for a slice of pizza and P.K. slept in the car on the way home. He went to school only during the afternoon, so his night-time training didn’t have a negative impact on his education.
The Hockey Years
In 2004, began to play hockey for the Markham Islanders in the Greater Toronto Hockey League. He tallied 15 goals and 28 assists in 67 games.
The next season, P.K. got drafted in the 6th round by the Belleville Bulls, an OHL team. During his rookie year, he scored 5 goals and 7 assists in 52 games.
PK Subban on draft day (Getty Images)
The following year, he kept better record with 15 goals and 41 assists in 68 games. After that season, Subban received an invitation to the 2007 NHL Entry draft, where he got drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round, 43th total. “I think I’m ready to play and I’m going to camp with the idea of making the Canadiens and helping them win the Stanley Cup ” said PK after being drafted.
Subban stayed with the Bulls for the 2007-2008 season, during which he scored 8 goals and 38 assists in 58 games played. Add to that the 23 points he compiled in 21 playoffs games. That year, the Bulls made it to the J. Ross Robertson cup finales, but they lost to the Kitchener Rangers in 7 games.
During his last year in Belleville, P.K. had his best season: 14 goals and 76 assist in 56 games. At the end of that season, he signed a 3-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens.
Subban spent a good part of the 2009-2010 season playing with the Bulldogs in the AHL. He scored 18 goals and 35 assists in 77 games and was selected to play in the AHL All-Star Game held in Portland.
His stay with the Bulldogs got interrupted twice. On the 11th of February 2010, the Canadiens called up Subban for their game against the Flyers the next day. The young defenseman played his first NHL grame and got his first NHL point (an assist) in Philadelphia on February 12 2010. Then two months later, in April 2010, the Canadiens needed Subban once again as they were playing the Washington Capitals in the playoffs. P.K. played his first NHL playoff game on April 26th 2010 and stayed with the team until its elimination against the Philadelphia Flyers in the Eastern conference final. He played a total of 14 games during which he scored 8 points, 1 goal and 7 assists.
After his playoffs experience with the Habs, P.K. went back to Hamilton in order to help the Bulldogs, who also were in the playoffs. Even if the Bulldogs didn’t win the Calder Cup, PK won the AHL’s President Trophy awards for his accomplishments during the 2009-2010 season.
In 2010-2011, PK made the big team and he had quite a year! He was selected to be a part of the All-Star rookie team for the 2011 NHL All-Star Game in Raleigh, North Carolina. Later on, on March 20th, he became the first rookie in the Montreal Canadiens’ history to score a hat trick. He also scored the overtime goal who clinched the Habs’ playoffs spot against the Chicago Blackhawks on April 5th 2011.
Hockey Firsts
First Game : February 12th 2010 against the Philadelphia Flyers
First Goal : November 11th 2010 against the Boston Bruins
First Assist : February 12th 2010 against the Philadelphia Flyers
Canadiens First Game : February 12th 2010 against the Philadelphia Flyers
Canadiens First Goal : November 11th 2010 against the Boston Bruins
Canadiens First Assist : February 12th 2010 against the Philadelphia Flyers
Personal Life
P.K. has four siblings: two sisters Natasha and Natassia and two brothers Malcolm and Jordan. Subban’s brothers also play hockey. Malcolm, goalie, plays with P.K.’s OHL team, the Belleville Bulls and Jordan, defenseman, plays with the Toronto Marlboros. P.K. admitted he believes his youngest brother will probably become a better hockey player than he is. In May 2011, P.K. became an uncle as his sister gave birth to a little boy named Legacy Andre Xavier (LAX).
Random/Fun Facts
P.K.and New-York Islanders’ John Tavares are really good friends. Their fathers used to go to school together and stayed in touch ever since. P.K.and John have known each other since they were kids and got the chance to play together at the 2009 WJHC.
Subban and Tavares at the WHJC (Tom Hanson, La presse canadienne)
P.K. Subban also played on the same team as Tampa Bay’s sniper Steven Stamkos when he was a child.
After he got drafted, P.K. admitted he wanted to cry, but didn’t because he was on TV!
At the beginning of his career, reporters asked him what the letters PK stood for and he answered “Penalty Killer”.
He was more nervous for the WHJC than for the playoffs game he played with the Habs in 2010.
His favourite hockey memory is the day he got drafted by the Montreal Canadiens.
When he received his first NHL paycheque he bought… breakfast for his parents!
His teammate Michael Cammalleri nicknamed him Prime Time.
His favourite hockey player is Bobby Orr. He loves his style and models his play after him.
If there ever was a movie made on his life, P.K. would like Denzel Washington to play him.
His guilty pleasure is sushi.
If he could have dinner with four people, he would choose Bobby Orr, Martin Luther King, Barack Obama and singer Beyoncé.
During the summer of 2011, P.K. Subban and ex-NHLer Georges Laraque went to Haiti to support the “Hockey for Haiti” fundraiser. They visited Port-au-Prince’s Grace Children hospital and played hockey with some of the hospital’s patient. P.K. said this trip changed his life: “It makes you value things. It gives me a different perspective on life. I’ve never seen a country like that. I’ve never seen a city in that state. Seeing people in that state is definitely going to have an effect on you. It’s had a huge effect on me. »
PK Subban on Twitter @PKSubban1
Career Regular Season Stats
Season
Age
Tm
Lg
GP
G
A
PTS
GC
+/-
PIM
EV
PP
SH
GW
S
S%
TOI
ATOI
2009-10
20
MTL
NHL
2
0
2
2
1
1
2
0
0
0
0
4
0.0
40
20:06
2010-11
21
MTL
NHL
77
14
24
38
14
-8
124
5
9
0
3
197
7.1
1715
22:16
2011-12
22
MTL
NHL
8
0
2
2
1
-6
8
0
0
0
0
27
0.0
198
24:43
Career
NHL
87
14
28
42
15
-13
134
5
9
0
3
228
6.1
1953
22:27
Career Playoff Stats
Season
Age
Tm
Lg
GP
G
A
PTS
GC
+/-
PIM
EV
PP
SH
GW
S
S%
TOI
ATOI
2009-10
20
MTL
NHL
14
1
7
8
2
6
1
0
0
0
23
4.3
290
20:44
2010-11
21
MTL
NHL
7
2
2
4
-2
2
0
2
0
0
16
12.5
200
28:34
Career
NHL
21
3
9
12
0
8
1
2
0
0
39
7.7
490
23:21
International Play
P.K. played for Team Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship twice.
In 2008, he played as a seventh defenseman. His ice time was limited, but he still managed to put his hands on a gold medal as Canada defeated Sweden in the final.
A year later, Subban had a more important role on the team. His 3 goals and 6 assists helped Canada win its fifth consecutive gold medal!
