It was an early start in hockey for Taj Singh.
In skates by age three, and playing organized hockey by age five, Singh took to the game very quickly. Born to immigrant parents who didn’t know anything about hockey, Singh credits his older brother, Harman, for igniting his passion for the game.
“Harman was born in Ottawa and he was super interested in the game. Our parents were new to things here, so he didn’t get to play hockey in a league until he was 11,” Singh said. “But he made sure that his younger brother would get into the game in a big way at a young age.”
As Singh continued to grow, so did his love, passion, and skill for hockey. By the time he turned nine, he was playing ‘AA’ hockey in the Metro Toronto Hockey League (now the GTHL). Even at a young age, he was breaking barriers.
“I’m pretty proud of the fact that I was the first turban-wearing Sikh kid to play in the MTHL,” said Singh. “It’s nice to see how this great game’s exposure has spread across many cultures now.”
Over the course of his minor hockey career, Singh played on various teams throughout the MTHL and Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) at the ‘AA’ and ‘AAA’ levels, concluding his time in minor hockey with the Mississauga Rebels. Years later, the love and passion he had for the game remained strong, and Singh wanted to pass it down to the next generation. Coaching was his way to do just that.
“I got into coaching in 2018 when my older son, who was five at the time, was starting to play organized hockey with the Heartland Dragons,” said Singh. “I volunteered through the organization and really liked that I could give back to the game this way.”
Singh’s passion for and experience in the game helped him find his way quickly behind the bench. In the years since, accompanied by his brother Harman, he’s coached in various organizations at the ‘AA’ level, including the Mississauga North Stars, Greater Toronto Capitals, and Streetsville Tigers. When asked about his coaching philosophy, Singh focuses on two simple questions.
“For me it’s about two things: development and fun,” Singh said. “Are the kids getting better week after week, and pushing themselves to get better? And do they love coming to the rink all the time?”
“If you can get a strong ‘yes’ to those two questions, I think you are headed in the right direction.”
Throughout his time as a coach, Singh has seen plenty of success, from league wins to tournament championships, but what really brings him joy is seeing the impact he has been able to have on his players.
“What really makes my day is running into kids I’ve coached before, seeing them grown up and doing well on and off the ice,” he said. “Even the fact that they are still playing hockey as they get older is great, knowing that I had some part in them developing a passion for the game.”
Singh’s time in hockey has taught him countless lessons, and his time as a coach has allowed him to instill those lessons in a new generation of hockey players. With the experience he now has under his belt, he encourages younger coaches to remember what the game is about.
“The biggest advice I would give my younger self is that it’s not all about the wins and losses on the scoreboard,” said Singh. “It’s about instilling important characteristics in the kids to make them better versions of themselves.”
“It’s about teaching them discipline and to push themselves in all they do.”
