Canadian sports announcer and journalist, Harnarayan Singh has made history. In addition to calling games in English for Sportsnet and Hockey Night in Canada, he has become a household name for announcing Punjabi-language broadcasts of the show. He is the first Sikh to broadcast an NHL game in English and the First Person to announce an NHL game in Punjabi for television.
Early life
In the 1960s, his parents came from India and immigrated to Canada. When Singh was a kid, he was an avid hockey fan; he and his siblings were fans of Wayne Gretzky and the Edmonton Oilers, and he would do mock announcements using toy microphones as part of the group.
He studied broadcasting at Mount Royal University in Calgary, where he hosted a hockey talk show on the student radio station. In 2004, Singh was accepted for a position as an intern with the TSN sports network.
Born and raised in a small town in Alberta, Harnarayan Singh has risen through the broadcast ranks to become a well-known media figure in the world of hockey, challenging the status quo along the way.
Following Passions
Singh worked as a reporter for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's Calgary news service after leaving TSN. Former NHL goalie Kelly Hrudey recommended Singh as a possible new announcer to fellow CBC employees. In January, Joel Darling, the executive producer of Hockey Night in Canada, approached Singh about calling a hockey game in Punjabi, which Darling believed would come in line with the public broadcaster's goal to "attract new Canadians and people who probably wouldn't watch hockey regularly."
Since 2009, Singh has been announcing National Hockey League games on Hockey Night in Canada in the Punjabi language. People appreciated his passion and his enthusiasm earned him a reputation. He and his crew have a devoted following. They spice up their calls with references to Punjabi foods, poetry, and music. Many hockey fans still remember Singh's well-known "BONINO BONINO BONINO" call during the San Jose Sharks vs. Pittsburgh Penguins 2016 Stanley Cup Final which turned into a viral video The call made him very popular among players and spectators.
He was the first person to announce an NHL game in Punjabi for television, and, in 2016, became the first Sikh Canadian to broadcast an NHL game in English. As part of the Calgary Flames organization, he also hosts an online segment every week.
He made his English play-by-play debut for Sportsnet on January 13, 2021, in a game between the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers. He won the Best Sports Play-by-Play award at the 9th Canadian Screen Awards in 2021.
One Game at a Time
Singh’s memoir, ‘One Game At A Time – My Journey From Small-Town Alberta to Hockey’s Biggest Stage, published in 2020, soon shot to instantaneous national bestseller status.
As the author, Harnarayan Singh shares his incredible and inspiring story of how he broke through long-standing barriers and biases within the sport he loves in the title ‘One Game at a Time. He speaks about his upbringing in small-town Alberta to calling games on a national stage As one of the most influential ambassadors of hockey today, Harnarayan blends his love of hockey with a refreshing and necessary positive message about what it is meant to be a Canadian.T through his book shares his experiences of balancing his faith and culture with the national sport of Canada.
His list of achievements is long and still growing. Singh was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Law by Mount Royal University on June 1, 2022.
Harnarayan has toured as an outstanding musician, performing Kirtan (Sikh music) throughout North America and India, notably at the sacred Golden Temple in Amritsar which he describes as a surreal experience. Harnarayan lives in Calgary with his wife and two young children.
A true trailblazer
His commitment to being a good broadcaster and a strong advocate for racial and social equality, as well as his work ethic, is truly inspiring.
Singh recalls a conversation he and his father had with the family doctor. The doctor added, after learning of Singh's broadcasting ambition, "You have to be realistic. Nobody who looks like you is on television." He proved him wrong. Harnarayan Singh has indeed gone a long way and set an example because now when Sikh students say they want careers n broadcasting, no one can tell them there is no one on TV who looks like them.
An example for everyone, this turbaned Sikh broadcaster who exudes heart, humor, and personality sends across a strong message-
“You can achieve anything that you set your mind to”