Hockey fans across Canada are delighted that among the players named for Team Canada Men’s Olympic Squad for the Winter Games in Sochi, Russia next month is PK Subban, a current defenceman for the Montreal Canadiens.
Subban is the current holder of the Norris Trophy, given annually to the best defenceman in the NHL, and was part of the team that won Gold on home ice at the Vancouver Winter Olympics four years ago.
The 32 year-old said after the news broke on Monday that it was a proud moment for both him and his parents.
“They weren’t born here in Canada. For two people that came from the Caribbean and started a family here, they had to work extremely hard to provide for that family. By all means, my parents had great jobs and they’re worked extremely hard, but I’m sure when they first came to Canada, they never thought about having three boys play hockey, let alone have one play for the Olympic team. I’m sure they’re very happy and if people see that as motivation, then great . I’m happy to do that.”
Subban’s father was born in Jamaica, while his mother migrated from Montserrat.
His brothers Jordan and Malcolm are also NHL players — Jordan with the Vancouver Canucks and Malcolm with the Boston Bruins.
Others named to the Canadian Olympic Squad are goalies Roberto Luongo, Carey Price and Mike Smith, Defencemen Jay Bouwmeester, Drew Doughty, Dam Hamhuis, Duncan Keith, Alex Pietrangelo, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Shea Weber, and Forwards Jamie Benn, Patrice Bergeron, Jeff Carter, Sidney Crosby, Matt Duchene, Ryan Getzlaf, Chris Kunitz, Patrick Marleau, Rick Nash, Corey Perry, Patrick Sharp, Steven Stamkos, John Tavares and Jonathan Toews.
At the 2009 World Juniors in Ottawa Subban scored 3 goals and 9 points and a differential of plus 12 in the tournament, helping Canada to its fifth consecutive gold medal