In this series, we’ll be asking various Nashville Predators players about their personal memories of the World Junior Championships. The 2019 tournament is being held in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia, Canada and started on December 26 and concludes with the Gold Medal Game on January 5.
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P.K. Subban
Team Canada || 2008 and 2009
Jeremy K. Gover: “In 2008 and 2009 you played in the World Juniors. What was that like to walk into that locker room and see your name on a Canadian jersey in a Team Canada stall?”
P.K. Subban: “It was awesome. What a great feeling, representing your country. Very few people get to do it and I’m very happy I got the opportunity to and was successful pretty much both times. You know, there are high expectations when you’re a Canadian hockey player and you get the privilege of playing for your country. To be successful is one of the best feelings in the world.”
JKG: “Can you describe how tough it was to win gold? I mean, is that even possible to put into words?”
PS: “Looking back at it now, it’s probably a lot tougher nowadays to win a World Junior gold medal or win a World Cup championship or a World Championship or whatever it is in international play. It’s tough because other countries have gotten so much better. I still think Canada is number one — I think we’re still the best country when it comes to the game of hockey — but the competition is high. It usually takes our best to win. But it’s a great privilege to play.”
JKG: “When you think back to that experience, does any one or two memories stand out?”
PS: *pauses* “Just winning.”
JKG: *laughs* “Just winning?”
PS: “Well, I mean, how tough it was. There was never a year when it was easy. Both years it was tough. And that was back then. Now it’s even tougher. So it’s hard to say. I still can’t believe that we won in 2009 when we were down and scored that goal with, like, five seconds left in the [semifinal] game. It could’ve gone either way. I remember being on the ice for the game-tying goal. It was a lot of fun. I’m just very very happy I got to be a part of it.”
JKG: “Do you still watch the tournament now?”
PS: “Every now and then but it’s hard, you know? With our schedules it’s just really tough but I try to watch as much as I can.”
JKG: “Thanks for the extra time, man. Really appreciate it.”
PS: “You got it.”
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Listen to the Preds Profile piece on World Junior Memories that originally aired on the Nashville Predators Pre-Game Show on Thursday, December 27 below.
