PK Subban: 'We must lower barriers to hockey for kids'

Former Hamilton Bulldogs player and current Montreal Canadiens star defenceman PK Subban wants to see more kids playing hockey. He discussed his work with Hyundai Hockey Helpers, a program that helps kids get started in the game, and his own journey to the NHL on CBC Toronto's Metro Morning with guest host David Common. But he wouldn't talk about his ongoing contract negotiations with the Canadiens.

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Here are some highlights from their conversation:

Common: What’s your first hockey memory?

Subban:  Besides all the memories of being on the backyard rink with my brothers every winter, probably my fondest memory was the story of my dad going to night school and picking me up, waking me up out of my sleep at 9, 10 o’clock at night and taking me down to Nathan Phillips Square to skate.

What is the Hyundai Hockey Helpers program intended to do?

To get under-resourced kids that maybe don’t have the money to play organized sports into organized hockey. Hyundai and KidSport have teamed up to give kids grants so that they can afford to play hockey and pay for their registration. This is our third year doing this program and we’ve already put 5,000 kids into the game of hockey.

What do you think can be done to change the cost of playing hockey for kids?

The way I look at it is, hockey is our national sport. So we want to get as many people involved in it as possible. It is significant to our country, our religion and really the make-up of who we are.

For these kids, they just want to have fun, and everyone should have the opportunity to play organized sports. There shouldn’t be a gap there. There shouldn’t be any barriers there.

Interview has been slightly edited for brevity and clarity.