"Organizations like the Punjabi Elite League are so important to this South Asian community, because it gives everyone a space to feel like they truly belong and that they're welcomed," Sekhon said. "The world right now, it's a weird time. There's a lot of days where things feel more divisive than they need to be. To me, sport has always been a place where you're supposed to go and escape all of that. It's supposed to be a place that brings everyone together, not that divides us.
"So, this gives us an opportunity to bring people together to celebrate how good they are at their sport, rather than having to worry about being judged for what they look like, what their name, or last name says, whether they're a boy or a girl. And it allows us to showcase, not just our community, but to the world, how important hockey is."
The Punjabi Elite League has become a point of cultural pride for participants of all ages. There is a strong focus on introducing the game to the youth in the community, allowing them to grow as players and hockey fans.
"We want to create access from athletes to existing advocates," Sekhon said. "We want to create a pipeline where coaches can become mentors. Guys like me that a little more senior are also working really hard to create the next wave of culture changes themselves so that we can move on to new challenges, and that whether we stop doing this or not, the importance and the work that we're trying to do will carry on long after we're done."
Sekhon's stature in the South Asian community has helped the game grow exponentially with players of all abilities picking up a stick. The ball hockey league runs from May to August in venues around Edmonton.
"Sonny was actually one of the best hockey players to come out of the South Asian community in Edmonton," said Arjun Atwal, cofounder of the Elite League. "He was kind of that mentor for me. He's really propelling not only the on-ice game, but the off-ice game, which really isn't talked about.
"He's really touching many areas of the game, which makes him very, very unique. There are a lot of people that are good in one area of the game, but he's kind of touching all facets and he's educated and he's been there. So, he's just a really good person to lean on and he goes above and beyond to help people, which is admirable."
Though the focus of the leagues and tournaments is about participation and enjoyment, it also gives young players a foundation to chase their hockey dreams. Atwal was in the Edmonton minor hockey system and went on to play as a forward for Saskatoon in the Western Hockey League and then at the University of Calgary.
"It gives them a belief and hope," Atwal said. "It doesn't make it seem like an unachievable goal and that they can't get to the top of this mountain. It teaches the kids that you can reach these levels and exceed these levels.
"We can help you get there. It just gives them the belief that they can make the NHL that's not an unachievable goal. They can make the Western Hockey League. They can play in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, so it gives them a passion and a reasonable goal and a belief that they can get there."
