By Caitlyn Golem, Staff Writer, All Habs Hockey Magazine
Owen Sound, ON. — A recent poll I ran on Twitter indicated P.K. Subban to be a fan favourite behind only the obvious choice of Carey Price. Why is Subban so important to fans? Let’s have a look.
The 26 year-old, Toronto-native shoots right…and to some critics that is the only thing he can do right, but that is where they are wrong. People either love P.K. or they hate him, there really is no in between on the spectrum. However, if you are one of those people who hate him, here are some things to consider.
Subban won gold at the World Juniors in 2008 and 2009, gold at the Sochi Olympics in 2014, and the 2013 James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman. In 2011 he became the first Canadiens’ rookie defenseman to score a hat-trick and has been Subbanging it in from the point ever since. On the ice, you can never doubt that he will be giving it everything he has.
In the 2016 All-Star weekend, aside from the John Scott, Subban made the skills competition worth watching. When P.K. put on his Jarmir Jagr outfit for the breakaway challenge, everyone, even Jagr himself had a chuckle.
It isn’t just All-Star appearances that catch people’s eyes though. He is always a pleasure to watch. If Subban is on the ice and you glance away for even a second, you are bound to have missed something.
Subban lives for the big moments and thrives on the pressure. The 2014 Habs-Bruins playoff series was no exception and as always he was in the spotlight. In game one of the series, P.K. scored the double-overtime winner, showcasing just how important he can be in those crucial moments of a game.
On the flip side, some angry Bruins fans showcased just how despicable they could be in a moment of defeat. They turned to social media to express their extremely uneducated opinion by directing racist tweets towards the Canadiens’ defenseman. Subban responded by defending the Bruins and their fan base, “It is completely unfair for anybody to point the finger at the organization or the fan base. They have passionate fans here, great fan base and since I’ve been in the league it’s been awesome. I’ve come to Boston many times, my family has come here, and it’s been great.”
He not only controlled his emotions towards the tweets but also made these comments when the Habs had just completely blown their lead in the third period and lost the game. His emotions would have been intense at the time but Subban remained calm and level-headed when he had every reason not to; the composure of a true superstar.
Subban is not just good for the Canadiens with his giant personality but also great for the city of Montreal with his giant heart. The summer of 2011 saw Subban and former NHLer Georges Laraque to Haiti in support of “Hockey for Haiti.” The pair visited the Part-au-Prince children’s hospital where they played hockey with some of the patients. At the time P.K. said, “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.” Have an effect, it certainly did as in September 2015, he announced his $10 million contribution to the Montreal Children’s Hospital which the hospital called, “the biggest philanthropic commitment by a sports figure in Canadian history.” He has had an entire wing of a hospital named after him, “Atrium Subban.”
Seeing my name in the atrium gave me goosebumps! It's an honor to be able to partner with #MontrealChildrensHospital. pic.twitter.com/MlG0hS10ny
— P.K. Subban (@PKSubban1) September 16, 2015
Subban spoke at the occasion, “Montrealers have taken me into their hearts in the past five years that I have been here and I hope to stay here for a very long time. It is my solemn promise to give back to those who have given me so much. In life I believe you are not defined by what you accomplish but by what you do for others. That’s how I live my life.” It seems we can all learn a little from P.K.
It’s quite evident now why fans go crazy for him, but if you don’t believe me, let’s hear from the fans themselves. I asked a few people what they think of Subban:
“P.K. is electric, both in his game and in his personality. When he’s on the ice, he’s who your eyes follow and when he’s off of it, he just seems to bring energy and happiness wherever he goes. He’s a great hockey player and an even better person. ” – Tommy Bell
“During the games as fan I love the fact he never gives up on a play. Win or lose, I know the money I spent on my ticket was worth it because I saw Subban live.” – Peter Alper
“P.K. is an original! I have never seen anyone like him in the league! Energy is constantly oozing from P.K. through his mannerisms and his kooky way of doing and saying how he really feels! A lot of people consider him too extroverted which results in them thinking he is a show-off but I don’t see it that way. Who else better to wake up a team! There are not too many who can and do bring the amount energy he brings to the game! He is a great ambassador for the club! His generosity has yet to be surpassed! He will do anything for any cause if it will help! Mind you he may not do it with flair but he will do it with gusto! I admire him very much!” –Adélard Bérubé
All in all, I think it is safe to say Subban’s status as a fan favourite is likely here to stay. Don’t believe me still? Ask Don Cherry…
Or Pierre McGuire…
https://vine.co/v/MXieKjFAPD7
Or simply let one of his many highlight reels speak for itself.
