CBCGEM- In the NHL, P.K. Subban was blasted for his showy style on the ice, and told that he couldn’t celebrate scoring goals if he was going to play for Team Canada.
A lifelong Canadian, P.K. was told “it wasn’t how Canadians were supposed to conduct themselves.”
Black Life:… pic.twitter.com/zeVnaNSqMS
– P.K. Subban (@PKSubban1) December 8, 2023
When you think of P.K. Subban as a hockey player, you think of a guy who was pretty flamboyant. That’s what made him so popular in Montreal… but also what displeased some of the club’s hockey staff.
Remember that Michel Therrien had banned his famous “triple low five” with Carey Price. We didn’t necessarily feel that Therrien liked his player’s intense personality.
But clearly, it wasn’t just in Montreal where his personality rubbed some people the wrong way.
Speaking to CBC’s Black Life: Untold Stories, Subban explained that, in 2014, when the process of making the Canadian Olympic team was underway, he was told that if he wanted to represent his country, he “wouldn’t be allowed to celebrate”.
Subban explains that, at the time, he was told that “this is not how Canadians should behave”. Inevitably, this frustrated Subban, who was born and raised in Canada.
Because in effect, it implies that Subban “doesn’t act like a true Canadian”, and I can understand why he was insulted.
But despite all this, you get the feeling that he wasn’t really respected, and that he was bullied for simply having a personality.
Prolongation
In the end, it’s a win-win situation… but not for Team Canada, obviously.
#RedWings Jake Walman breaks down his griddy #Detroit #Griddy #celebration #nhl
Best regular season Cellys of all time. PERIOD!!!! pic.twitter.com/UeaG0neVlS
– P.K. Subban (@PKSubban1) December 6, 2023