Subban King Clancy Win a Team Effort | BLOG

When P.K. Subban arrived in New Jersey, not only did he bring his on-ice talents and dashing sense of style to the team, he brought his unmatched philanthropic ways. Immersing himself in the communities he has lived in to help make a positive impact has always been a part of how Subban has chosen to distinguish himself as an athlete.
"It started pretty organically actually," he shared on a conference video call shortly after the announcement, "my family has a history and they still do today of helping children, (...) everybody in our family, works with children and knows how to give back. And that's all I really know. So the act of giving back or doing something to help someone is what I've witnessed my whole life."
On Tuesday night, the Devils defenseman was recognized by the National Hockey League as the winner of the 2022 King Clancy Award, given to the player whose "leadership on and off the ice and who has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution to his community."
"It's definitely exciting," he said, "You know, it's always, it's a privilege to really receive individual accolades in the NHL, with how many great players there are, and how good those players are at what they do and that includes the things they choose to do off the and to be amongst not just finalists, but winners of the award is pretty special."

The 33-year-old, having played in 10 years in the league before arriving in New Jersey already had his P.K. Subban Foundation in place when he arrived to the Devils, but the community he was walking into had a completely new opportunity ahead.
"Obviously going to New Jersey was going to be different," he said on a video conference call Tuesday night, "I wanted to give back to a community where people also look like me, I think, being in Newark and driving to Newark every day and being in that community, you understand that playing for the New Jersey Devils, you are a leader, you're a role model in that community and specifically to the African American community and I wanted to do something a little bit more specific."

Subban recognized that his efforts in the Newark and surrounding area communities would not have been possible without the unwavering support of the New Jersey Devils organization, in a relationship he called 'sincerely supportive'. Together, the club and Subban's foundation worked together to highlight his specific programs, while also collaborating on team-specific opportunities like the design of the team's Black History Month warmup jersey, among others.
"The program expanded in ways that I could have never imagined," Subban said of serving the Newark community. "So you know, going into New Jersey, I went in with an open mind and after three years I'm really excited. Really excited for the work that I've done and I'm happy with the program and the way it was received. The team obviously embraced it with open arms and I can't be any more happy with this result."
It's a feeling that is reciprocated, with Subban named the Devils nominee the last three seasons for the award, ending as a finalist in all three, and now finally the winner in 2022.
"They've been second to none. I can't thank them enough. And really, right from the top down from Josh Harris and David Blitzer, to the coaching staff [...] It's really been fun working with the Devils and working with their front office and a new team to participate in events but also in joint initiatives that we do with my foundation.
"It's been very, very easy and that's probably why I'm so happy to receive this award, is I feel that they deserve it."