Fan who ripped Canadiens in ad makes huge donation to Subban foundation
Before the Montreal Canadiens opened up their season last week, a disgruntled fan took out a full page ad in the Montreal Gazette to announce a protest against the team for trading P.K. Subban over the summer.
That fan, later identified as Dr. Charles Kowalski, praised Subban for being an exceptional player and person while also expressing "anger, disappointment, and embarrassment" over the deal that shipped the defenseman to Nashville in exchange for Shea Weber. There's no denying that it was a deal that shook the hockey landscape, as Subban was not only one of Montreal's best hockey players, but also one of the most beloved and influential members of its community.
Thanks to the trade, Kowalski said he felt that he could no longer support those in charge of running the team and, thus, would not be using his season tickets this year. And while that was a strong show of support for the 27-year-old Subban -- as beloved and influential an athlete as Montreal has seen in quite some time -- it was nothing compared to what Kowalski did this week.
There's putting your money where your mouth is, and then there's donating a quarter-million dollars to a player's foundation helping sick children. In addition to the incredible donation, Kowalski's family also gave the Montreal Children's Hospital the season tickets they said they wouldn't be using this season. Those tickets will be given to patients and their families.
Assuming Subban saw the full-page ad last week, I'm sure he appreciated the gesture. But knowing the importance that the defenseman places on helping sick kids -- Subban pledged $10 million to Montreal Children's back in 2015 -- it's safe to presume that this means a whole lot more.
