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More than Blood and Violence

Hockey and Philanthropy

Pernell-Karl Sylvester Subban, or as he is better known in the NHL, P.K. Subban, is one of the most dynamic hockey players to ever play the game. But his over-the-top personality isn’t the only thing that distinguishes him within the league. P.K. has a heart of gold that outshines most pro-athletes, in any sport. P.K. is a true philanthropist. In September of 2015 he pledged 10 million dollars, over the span of 7 years, to the Montreal Children’s Hospital, where they named an atrium after him. While playing in Montreal, P.K. would post often about his visits to the hospital, to raise awareness about at-need children in Quebec. P.K. may not be playing in Montreal anymore, but his charitable nature has followed him down south to Nashville Tennessee where he currently plays for the Predators.

P.K. is active on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and uses his fame to bring people together across social media. He recently started a program called Blueline Buddies in Nashville that brings together a police officer, a community mentor, and an at-risk youth at every home game. P.K. takes a new group out every game, personally paying for their dinner and tickets. “That’s the job that [the police] have,” Subban says, “so to make them feel good, and to also be able to help underprivileged youth that don’t get an opportunity like everyone else, that come from broken homes, it’s a win-win.” He signs autographs for everyone at the game and posts their night out together across social media.

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P.K. posts about these events because of the division we have all witnessed across social media. As a black athlete in the U.S. he is aware of the feelings a lot of other professional athletes have about law enforcement. “I think it’s important for athletes to set a tone in a way that we’re looking to build bridges,” Subban said. “That doesn’t take away from anybody’s right to do what they want to do or how they want to exercise their rights as an American citizen, but I think it’s really important for us to be role models in terms of building bridges and being a part of the solution to social issues and different things that go on in our community.”

The P.K. Subban Foundation is a nonprofit organization that is “helping the lives of others, one child at a time.” The foundation posts inspirational photographs and videos over Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag: #InspiredbytheBrave and #PKSF. The little blurbs posted about children with special needs has prompted a national effort to help donate to the Montreal Children’s Hospital that P.K. gives so much of his time too. The hospital posts on Instagram under the name @lechildren.

P.K.’s charitable work isn’t the only thing that sets him apart on social media though. He is the second most followed NHL player behind Alex Ovechkin, who shares a similarly large personality. P.K. is also a model and spokesperson for RW&CO., a fashion chain out of Montreal. With his father and two brothers, they post pictures and video of themselves showing off suits and dress wear on Instagram. Nolan Patrick, a rookie playing for the Philadelphia Flyers, is also a spokesperson for RW&CO., so it would seem P.K. is also influencing other players through fashion and social media.

P.K. is unlike a lot of other athletes that make mistakes across social media. Instead of posting controversial remarks that could hurt his brand, he utilizes social media specifically to help people and spread awareness.