Hyundai Hockey Helpers

P.K. Subban

Montreal Canadiens Defenceman

I know what it’s like to be a kid who wants nothing more than to play hockey. I also know that it takes more than heart. It takes hours of ice time and the right equipment – and that takes money.

Some families have a hard time with the cost of equipment and league fees. I know mine did. It can be a struggle that becomes an obstacle for too many talented young kids with big hearts and a love of the game.

I got to the NHL because generous people cared and found a way to give me an opportunity of a lifetime. I’m proud to be a part of Hyundai Hockey Helpers and help give kids across Canada the same opportunity I had. Hyundai Hockey Helpers will provide deserving families with grants to help with equipment costs and league fees. We will help more than 1,000 kids a year.

And you can help too. If you believe that every kid should get a chance to get in the game, please support Hyundai Hockey Helpers.

Karl Subban

Middle School Principal and Hockey Dad

My family came to Canada when I was eleven and I grew up in Sudbury, Ontario. At first, I thought hockey was a strange sport, but it wasn’t long before I loved it as much as every other kid in town.

I played pick-up with neighbourhood kids on a rink at the end of the street with skates and stick from the Salvation Army. My family couldn’t afford all the other equipment or the fees for me to play in a league with my friends, but I still played outside every day.

As I raised my own family of five kids, I encouraged them all to get into organized sports. They learned teamwork, time management, goal setting and the importance of discipline and dedication. These are all things that you need to succeed in sports, but also in life.

I give the same encouragement to the students at the school where I work. I’ve found that participating in sports helps their schoolwork and keeps troubled kids out of trouble. It really makes them better people, and that builds better communities.

From my own experience and that of the families I meet at school, I can tell you the kind of support Hyundai Hockey Helpers can provide is needed and very important. That’s why I’m so happy to be a part of this program, along with my sons, P.K., Malcolm and Jordan.

Malcom Subban

Belleville Bulls Goalie and first-round Boston Bruins Draft Pick

I started playing when I was about four, so I went through a lot of equipment over the years, not to mention the cost for league fees. I used some of P.K’s old equipment for a long time, but I’m sure the expenses still added up.

I knew lots of kids who really wanted to get into league play, but their families just couldn’t afford it. Hyundai Hockey Helpers is exactly what those kids needed, but there wasn’t anything like it back then.

I was lucky that my parents made sacrifices to give me the opportunity to play. With five, sports-crazy kids in our family, I know it couldn’t have been easy for them. But there are kids all across Canada that need and deserve a little help, and I hope you’ll help us get them in the game.

Jordan Subban

Belleville Bulls Defenceman

As the youngest brother, you can imagine what the some equipment was like after it was passed-down from P.K., to Malcolm and then to me. It didn’t matter, though, I was on the ice, playing hockey. More importantly, I was playing with my brothers.

To this day, the game keeps us in-touch. I play in Belleville with Malcolm now, but even before I joined him, we compared notes, tips, and strategies. Same with P.K. Even after he joined the Montreal Canadiens, he’s never been more than a phone call away. The game has kept us connected even as the sport has led us away from home.

Of course, we’re family. We’re expected to stay in-touch.

But, I can say same thing about my teammates. All that time practicing, playing, winning, and losing, you get to know the people you’re playing with. You become friends. And you stay in-touch for years because of that shared experience in the arena. I’ve learned that’s what my father means when he says sports build better kids and better communities.