Educator, author and NHL hockey dad Karl Subban gave a speech about how to reach one's potential at the Red Deer College Kings and Queens Scholarship Breakfast Wednesday morning.

Subban is father of hockey players P.K., Malcolm and Jordan Subban, as well as two daughters. He urged 400 guests at Westerner Park's Harvest Centre to dream big, believe in themselves, and work hard.

Throughout his speech, Subban drew on his experience as a former school principal in Toronto, and as a father. Several times, he asked the audience to recite self-affirming messages.

The author of How We Did It: he Subban Plan for Success in Hockey, School and Life also shared an anecdote from P.K.’s minor hockey days when a coach told the future Norris Trophy winner that he would never turn pro, nor make it further in the game than he did.

“Young people, as they chase their dreams, they will face adversity. They will face challenges. The world will not always treat them and speak to them the way we want it to. But we don’t want them to stop, we don’t want them to give up,” Subban said.

“We need to speak to children more about potential. We don’t do that enough. That’s one topic that’s hardly ever discussed -- about potential. It gives them the ability to work through these things. Because a lot of young people feel they can’t do it. I always tell them, maybe you can’t do it today but you can do it tomorrow.”

Like P.K., Subban encouraged people to “fortify” their belief in their own potential.

“Our dreams will change over time. In my lifetime, I’ve had many dreams. I have not fulfilled them all, but the one guarantee is I learned a lot about myself. I learned about what I’m capable of. I learned that I can learn more.”

Scholarships awarded

L-R: Andrew Jones, Karl Subban and Megan Schmidt.

Also this morning, Ponoka curler Andrew Jones and Red Deer volleyball player Megan Schmidt were named recipients of the Scott Builders Student-Athlete Leadership Scholarship. They each were awarded $1,500.

Schmidt coaches volleyball on the side for Notre Dame High School and the Central Alberta Queens Volleyball Club. She has also started Raise-A-Reader programs in local schools.

“For me, (the scholarship) is just validation that we’re on the right track and we’re doing what we’re supposed to do in our community … giving back to the community that’s done so much for us,” Schmidt says. “I know as student-athletes we have a platform to really influence the kids in the community.”

Jones coaches curling at the high school and junior level, and with Special Olympics.

“The faces of kids when you go out and help them out, that’s what it’s all about. It’s not about winning a championship, although those are nice, it’s just about giving back and making sure that our legacy lives on.”

While Jones has two years left in his business administration program, Schmidt will be off to work for an accounting firm in Edmonton.