Hockey For All Centre opens exhibit highlighting South Asian community

In an effort to highlight the impacts the South Asian community has made on Canada’s game, a new exhibit titled ‘We Are Hockey’ was unveiled Wednesday morning at the fittingly named Hockey For All Centre.

Curated by Dr. Satwinder Bains, the 20-panel exhibit aims to make the sport of hockey more inclusive for all communities. The goal is to educate the next generation on the journeys and accomplishments of trailblazers such as Harnarayan Singh and Jujhar Khaira. 

“That is where representation is key, as soon as a child can see themselves at the height of success, they know they can strive for that as well,” said Ganni Maan, Grow the Game Ambassador.

“I think that is why an exhibit like this is so important to highlight, to have so many people coming through these doors at Hockey For All Centre, where kids can finally understand the history of ethnic communities and how they contributed to the game and what they’ve accomplished in the game.”

Maan has seen firsthand the impact the sport can have through programs such as Hockey Manitoba’s First Shift, which recently taught upwards of 60 children from the South Asian community how to skate, and says regardless if they end up in the NHL or not, the life lessons learned through hockey are in invaluable.

“It teaches kids that regardless, when you come together and you lace up those skates, you hit the ice, you are one unit, you are one team,” explained Maan.

The exhibit will be open to the public at the Hockey For All Centre until the spring, and with over 70,000 people visiting the facility monthly, General Manager David Sattler says it’s a great opportunity for families of all backgrounds to learn more about the sport we all love.

“Hockey has the ability to bring people together, share commonalities, enjoy time at the rink, make new friends, and experience new things,” said Sattler. “So it’s important that we can bring that here for people to start to learn more about the history of the sport, and South Asian participation.”

Elements of the “We Are Hockey” display will be featured at the Canada Life Centre on December 16 as part of the Winnipeg Jets South Asian Heritage Night, which will also include the Canadian national anthem being sung in Punjabi prior to puck drop.