By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Karl Subban preaches about potential at RDC Athletics Scholarship Breakfast

Apr 11, 2018 | 12:33 PM

What’s stopping you from reaching your full potential?

The keynote speaker at the 15th annual RDC Kings and Queens Scholarship Breakfast asked this question of the 400 in attendance on Wednesday morning.

Karl Subban, or ‘P.K.’s dad’ as he quipped numerous times, said he taught his three NHL-drafted sons how to achieve all they could be. He covers the same subject in his book entitled ‘How We Did It.’

“It starts with a dream. P.K. had a dream to play hockey in the NHL and we know that as you chase your dream as P.K. did, you will face doubts and doubters,” Subban said. “Then you need a strong belief system. The third thing is you must make it actionable, which I like to present in the form of the four Ts: Time, Tasks, Training and Team.”

Subban, who is also a parent to two daughters, and is a long-time middle school principal himself in the Toronto area, says parenting has taught him it’s not what you say, but what you can do that will affect your children.

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“The dream the boys are living now, they won’t be twenty years from now. Our dreams will change over time and the problem that some of us face is that we don’t want to change,” he continued. “Facing criticism is all part of the process, and if you can’t deal with the challenges and adversities, you’re not going to make it. The world will not always treat children the way we want it to, but we don’t want them to quit.”

Subban, who commended the student-athletes, as well as Red Deer College for the environment of teamwork that exists on campus, said sports were like an extra parent for his kids in their younger years. 

“They have to learn to deal with winning, to deal with losing, to deal with sitting on the bench, waiting their turn,” he said. “Maybe they don’t get what they think they should, but those are important life skills. Those things make you better.”

Subban joked that adversity is like Buckleys: it doesn’t taste good, but it’s good for you.

The Scott Builders Student-Athlete Leadership Scholarships were also announced Wednesday. Each is worth $1500.

Megan Schmidt, of Queens Volleyball, and Andrew Jones, from the Kings curling team, are the recipients.

Over five years, Schmidt has been an integral part of the volleyball squad, helping to win bronze at this year’s ACAC Championships. Schmidt is a fifth-year Bachelor of Business Administration student and has coached with the Notre Dame High School volleyball team, as well as with the Central Alberta Queens Volleyball Club program. She is also a two-time CCAA Women’s Volleyball National Champion.

Jones, a second-year Bachelor of Business Administration student, was part of a silver medal-winning team at this year’s ACAC Curling Championships. A Ponoka native, Jones also volunteers with the Special Olympics curling team and is an instructor for Adult Learn to Curl in Red Deer.