Dr. Charles Kowalski, an emergency room physician living in Ottawa, and a life-long Montreal Canadiens fan, has gained notoriety over the past 24 hours after taking out a full-page ad in the Montreal Gazette thanking former Habs star P.K. Subban, who was traded to Nashville in this summer’s biggest blockbuster deal.

Since the letter was published, Kowalski has launched www.afranchiseheldintrust.com, where he implores fans to donate money to the Montreal Children’s Hospital, where Subban famously supported and contributed $10 million of his own money.

On Friday, I spoke to Dr. Kowalski to learn more about his initiative and how he’s trying to turn a difficult moment for Habs fans and the city of Montreal into the opportunity of a lifetime.

Sportsnet: Can you believe the traction your letter has received in such a short time?

Kowalski: I didn’t have any expectations, to be honest. The first part was primarily to thank P.K., but now the important part is to get the message out on the website, and let’s see if we can raise some money for the hospital. But I’m pleased. Everyone I’ve spoken to has been supportive.

Last night you were on Prime Time Sports, a massive nationally syndicated radio show, you had TV appearances this morning, a photo shoot later this afternoon… How would you describe last 24 hours?

Really demanding, but fun. It’s something new for me. I’ve been very careful not to take on too much, and I’m just staying focused on the task at hand, which is to get the message out.

You’re from Western Canada and currently live in Ottawa. How’d you become a Habs fan?

I’m originally from Regina, but my family and I moved to Ottawa in July, 2014.

When I was a child there were only two Canadian teams- Toronto and Montreal- and quite honestly, Montreal was just amazing and they captured me. Saturday nights were always fun, with my dad cheering for Toronto and me for Montreal. And it just carried on… My wife and I started going to games once I finished medical school. There was a stand advertising season tickets. We were thinking of moving and I was thinking years ahead because I felt the opportunity to get season tickets may not arise again. That was either the 2004 or 2005 season, when I first purchased the tickets.

It was always a fun event when they’d arrive; the kids and I would open them up and take pictures. It was like Christmas. But they remain unopened this year. I haven’t taken them out of the package.

It’s a two-hour drive from Ottawa to Montreal, do you do that every game?

No, we go when we can. I have a nine year-old and a seven-year old. The plan is to go more over the next five years, I hope to go to 20-25 games a year. From my seat in the Bell Centre to my garage is just about two hours and five minutes.

So then I take it your boycott is temporary?

As of now, yes, it’s just for this season. I can only take it one year at a time.

Was the hard part losing P.K. because of his charitable contributions, or were you initially upset at losing what he brought to your team on the ice?

I think it’s both. But what really stuck with me afterward the trade was, ‘How is this money going to be raised now?’ I realized I couldn’t really focus on hockey with this bigger issue at hand. The real loss in this is P.K. Subban, the person, much more than P.K. the hockey player.

When did you first toy with the idea of the full-page ad?

I actually just started writing a letter to P.K., to thank him. I thought I was going to send it with a note from my family, I was going to send it to his website. Saturday night in our home, my daughter and son and I would go downstairs and that was our hockey night. My kids just gravitated to P.K., always. I just wanted to thank him.

It led to the idea of raising money myself. Honestly, my thinking was that I could drum up enough interest to have a news conference early next week to promote the website and relly get things going.

But the letter was really to P.K., and I think he deserved it. He did so much in the community and was such a presence.

One of the talking points in the aftermath is the cost to run a full page ad like that.

It wasn’t as much as people are saying.

More importantly, I will be donating $50,000 to www.afranchiseheldintrust.com. And I’m asking fellow Montreal fans to follow my lead. All I’m asking for is the price of one beer at the Bell Centre, $15. That’s all. If you go to the site it links directly to the Montreal Children’s Hospital where all the money goes to. Every cent.

You’re an emergency room physician, so you must see every day how important it is to support a children’s hospital.

My son, Gabriel, was born unexpectantly at 32 weeks. We almost lost him. This was in Regina, and he was inches away from being transported to Edmonton for life support. With that experience, and being a physician, I know how important neo-natal and infant medicine is. It changes lives. It saves lives.

Medicine is always important, but helping kids is a special aspect and I’ve seen it firsthand as both a doctor and a father. People who look out for ailing infants have done a wonderful job. My son is now a healthy, functioning nine year-old. That medicine saved my son’s life and changed our lives forever. That’s why I’m happy to support this cause.

The trade was obviously upsetting for you and many Habs fans. But do you see this as a silver lining, you know, ‘everything happens for a reason?’ You’ve been given this opportunity to make a difference in an extremely meaningful way.

I think I do. Good things can arise out of difficult situations. This is one of those cases. If we want to move on as a franchise and a fan base, for me raising the money is more important than the hockey. If we can pull this off it will be a great way to get closure with this and move on. It’s a great opportunity for fans to step up and help turn the P.K. trade into a positive thing.

Visit www.afranchiseheldintrust.com to help support the Montreal Children’s Hospital.