12. P.K. Subban Brought Island Swagger to the NHL

The son of parents from Jamaica and Montserrat, Toronto-born Pernell Karl “P.K.” Subban is becoming one of the National Hockey League’s greatest attractions. It’s not just his skills that demand attention. More so, it is the exuberant way he plays the game. With his showy skating and boisterous post-goal celebrations, Subban is the type of player that brings new fans into the sport, while irritating the hell out of old purists. He’s brought a new level of flash and boldness to hockey, like Jordan with his tongue wagging, or Bolt in track and field, and he’s easily the league’s funniest comedian. Hockey fans have known this all a while (and Subban’s 2014-2015 season was not necessarily a better campaign than his previous one), but this was the year where his renown grew beyond the sport. A number of players with island roots have made an impact in the NHL, but it’s not a stretch to say that Subban is the league’s first Caribbean superstar. —Jesse Serwer