THN Archive: P.K. Subban Tells All

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE HOCKEY SLANG WORD OR PHRASE? – Joe McMahon, Austin, Tx.

‘Beauty.’ It’s used way too much, but I love it.

HAS ANYTHING FUNNY EVER HAPPENED BETWEEN YOU AND CAREY PRICE IN PRACTICE OR IN A GAME?

– Deedee Noel, Hamilton, Ont.

SUBBAN: There was one time in a game where a shot had come through that he didn’t see. I sort of blocked it with my stick and he gave me a pat on the ass, then I patted him on the head. This was during the game, so I thought that was pretty funny.

AS A LIFELONG BOSTONIAN AND DIEHARD BRUINS FAN, I HONESTLY WANT TO HATE YOU, BUT YOUR TACTFUL RESPONSE TO THE MEDIA UPROAR FOLLOWING GAME 1 IN BOSTON, YOUR EXCELLENT WORK DURING THE NHL AWARDS AND YOUR OVERALL OFF-ICE LIKABILITY IS MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT THAN I CARE TO ADMIT. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO BE MORE HATEABLE AS A PERSON? – John Dooley, Boston

(Laughs) I like that. You know what, for me I just have so much respect for the game and the fans. I’ll always be respectful of the fans and players of opposing teams, because that’s just the way I’ve been taught. But it’s flattering to hear that from a Boston fan. So thank you.

YOU HAVE A VERY POSITIVE ATTITUDE. DO YOU HAVE A DAILY MANTRA OR PERSONAL MOTTO? WHAT GETS YOU THROUGH TOUGH SITUATIONS?

– Heather Courtney, Toronto

SUBBAN: I don’t know, I just feel like it’s a part of life, and everybody goes through ups and downs. You define who you are with how you respond in situations, and I just try and respond the best way I can. It’s not always easy and I don’t want anybody to think that it’s easy, but you just try and respond the best way you can. That’s all you can ask for, right?

HOW DO YOU MANAGE TO KEEP A RELATIVELY STABLE AND POSITIVE DYNAMIC WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHILE BEING GONE ON THE ROAD FOR SO LONG? IS IT HARD TO MAINTAIN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS BECAUSE OF ALL THE TRAVELLING YOU DO?

– Isabella Bovero, Tampa, Fla.

SUBBAN: I don’t think so. I speak to my parents every day regardless of where I am, whether I’m in Montreal, in Toronto or on the road, during the summers or during the year. It’s a lot tougher with my brothers and sisters, but we always seem to bridge that gap. But no matter how long I’m away, it seems like I never left when I’m back home.

WITH THE CHANGING RACIAL DEMOGRAPHICS IN NORTH AMERICA, DO YOU BELIEVE THE LEAGUE IS DOING ENOUGH TO PROMOTE THE SPORT TO NON-WHITE AUDIENCES?

– Adam Flint, Houston, Texas

SUBBAN: The league is doing a great job of promoting the sport, period. They’re doing all the right things. We’re still learning about the new communities who are being open to our game. We’re still tapping into new communities who aren’t familiar with our game and getting them involved. It’s a challenge for all sports, not just hockey. They’ve done a great job, and things are going to continue to get better. As we have more minorities involved in the game of hockey, that will help speed up the process.

IF YOU COULD PLAY HOCKEY WITH ANY CELEBRITY, DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?

– Sarah Betros, Lincroft, N.J.

SUBBAN: My team would be Michael Jackson, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr and Guy Lafleur. I’d like Guy Lafleur to get in there, and I’d like Beyoncé to coach the team. We could go on and on. I’ve got a long list. (Laughs)

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? – Tim Sandanam, Cornwall, Ont.

‘Who do you think you are?’ I like that. You know what? I’m just P.K. I just try to be who I am. That would be my answer to that question. I’m not trying to be anybody else, that’s for sure.

CANADA HASN’T WON A WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP GOLD SINCE 2009. DO YOU THINK THIS SHOULD BE CONCERNING FOR THE FUTURE OF CANADIAN HOCKEY? DO YOU THINK CANADA IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK IN TERMS OF DEVELOPING ITS PLAYERS TO THE FULLEST?

– Adrienne Middlebrook, Toronto

SUBBAN: It’s a great thing for hockey. First of all, it also holds us as Canadians accountable in making sure that we continue to develop the best players on our world junior and Olympic teams so that we can continue to dominate. It’s also great for the game, because it shows that other countries are starting to take hockey more seriously and are developing grassroots programs that are ultimately developing some pretty great players. We’ve seen that in the past decade or so of players coming in from smaller countries and places we’ve never seen players come from before, and they’ve turned out to be some of the best players in our game. So it’s great for the game, and it’s only going to get more people involved.

DID YOUR LIMITED ICE TIME AT THE OLYMPICS ACT AS MOTIVATION FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE NHL SEASON OR DID YOU JUST FEEL HAPPY/FORTUNATE TO BE THERE? REAL ANSWER PLEASE, NO SIDESTEPPING. – Rick Cote, Fort McMurray, Alta.

No, I really enjoyed it. Obviously, I would’ve loved to participate more on the ice, but they made me feel my role was just as important, and at the end of the day, if something had happened and I had to step in, I would’ve been able to do that. My satisfaction comes from knowing that, if I had to play, I knew I could play and be one of the best players on the ice. That’s where my confidence is. As far as not playing, yeah, I would’ve loved to play. Everybody wants to play. And although we’re hoping the Olympics come back, we’re not too sure if they will. And if they don’t, I have a gold medal to show for it. So I’m very happy.

WHAT STEPS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO DECREASE THE COST OF YOUTH HOCKEY IN CANADA SO AS MANY KIDS AS POSSIBLE CAN BE A PART OF THE BEST SPORT IN THE WORLD?

– Tim Allison, Burlington, Ont.

SUBBAN: Continuing to be part of initiatives that raise awareness and that also raise money for kids who can’t afford it. If you look at the Hyundai Helpers program I’m involved in, that’s definitely helping put more kids in our game, and we need to see more programs like that to encourage people who can support and help to go out and do it. We’re getting more and more of that with every year that goes by, so we’re definitely going in the right direction.

IT SEEMS SOME COACHES LOSE SIGHT OF WHAT’S IMPORTANT IN YOUTH HOCKEY: HAVING FUN. DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE TO GIVE TO US MINOR HOCKEY COACHES TO HELP BRING BACK THAT ASPECT?

– Landon Gregg, Fort St. James, B.C.

SUBBAN: Skills. A lot of minor hockey coaches work way too much on systems. When I look at the NHL, yes, systems are important, but if you don’t have the skill level to work within that system to generate offense, to move the puck out of your zone, you’re not going to win many games. So I’d work on skill development. And skills are fun. Kids want to learn to be creative with the puck. That was a priority for me growing up.

CAN YOU TELL WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND THE USE OF DIFFERENT HOCKEY STICK MODELS IN A GAME? YOU STILL USE THE EASTON S19, WHICH IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO BUY. DID YOU STACK UP A PILE IN YOUR GARAGE?

– Simon LaRochelle, Quebec City, Que.

SUBBAN: No, it’s not an S19, actually. It’s an SE16, which is an even older model that’s just painted S19. Easton Hockey has been more than willing to make sure those sticks are made available for me, and I’m very happy and thankful for that. And as you can see, my shot still comes off pretty nicely with those sticks, so I’d like to continue to use them for as long as I can.

IF YOU COULD CHANGE OR REVISE ONE RULE IN THE GAME, WHICH WOULD IT BE AND WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?

– Josie R., Markham, Ont.

SUBBAN: I don’t know if I would change anything. I like things the way they are. Our game is at an all-time high.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS YOUR MOST AMAZING MEMORY AWAY FROM HOCKEY?

– Neal Foster, Nashville

SUBBAN: I’ve got a lot of memories. Meeting Magic Johnson recently was cool. That would have to be ranked up there with some of the best ones. He was aware of who I was, which was kind of cool. But there are a lot of events that have been exciting. You look at Seth Rogen and being able to have fun at Just For Laughs with him – that was pretty cool. I was able to go to Europe this summer and meet some really cool people like Novak Djokovic. He invited me to his match at the Rogers Cup in Toronto, and I’m sure that will be a great experience. It’ll be the first live tennis match for me, so that’ll be another cool experience. But there are many.

WHAT DOES AN AVERAGE DAY OF TRAINING CONSIST OF DURING THE OFF-SEASON?

– Chantal L., Montreal

SUBBAN: Well, it’s 2 p.m. right now and I’ve already worked out twice today, so that’s pretty much how it starts. After this I’m going to eat another steak and salad, and then probably just enjoy watching Jose Bautista put on a clinic at the SkyDome.

HAVE THERE BEEN ANY MOMENTS IN YOUR HOCKEY CAREER THAT YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE HANDLED DIFFERENTLY AND HOW HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM THEM? – Matthew Perry, Belleville, Ont.

No, I don’t think so. I don’t think I look back at anything I’d like to change or do differently, because ultimately anything that maybe didn’t go your way, you learn from it, you get better and you move on. So I wouldn’t change anything.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN FIRST: YOU SNIPING A GOAL ON YOUR BROTHER MALCOLM, OR GETTING YOUR OTHER BROTHER JORDAN WITH A GOOD OLD-FASHIONED BODYCHECK?

– Michael Grenier, Winkler, Man.

SUBBAN: Sniping on Malcolm for sure.

HOW IMPORTANT WAS YOUR SEASON IN HAMILTON OF THE AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE TOWARD YOUR DEVELOPMENT AS A PLAYER ON AND OFF THE ICE?

– Darryl Dionne, Niagara Falls, Ont.

SUBBAN: It was really important, becoming a pro and learning from other pros who’d been to the NHL or who had long careers in the AHL. I wouldn’t take that year away for anything. I’m happy I had the opportunity to play there, and it was probably one of the best things I’ve done in my career so far.

DESCRIBE AN EMBARRASSING MOMENT YOU’VE EXPERIENCED AS AN ATHLETE.

– Austin Bauer, Calgary

SUBBAN: My most embarrassing moment was probably in junior one time. I came flying out during the warmup, and I was crossing over toward the red line, when I lost my edge and slid all the way to the top of the circle in the other team’s zone. That was pretty embarrassing. It happened in Saginaw. Luckily, it wasn’t in a place like Kingston, where we were rival teams, or Oshawa. ■