JORA DHAMI #7 JERSEY RETIREMENT NIGHT
Family, Friends, Teammates, Golden BC join us Saturday November 23rd Raising Rockets Local Legend JORA DHAMI’S #7 to the Plywood Palace rafters!
Indo-Canadian Celebration STYLE!
Calgary's Finest Dholis! ~ Droppin’ da Bass all over da Place!
Calgary's Dance Bhangra Team! ~ Grace & Execution!
Tasty Pakoras, and Samosa’s from the Indian Kitchen!
Hockey Night In Canada Punjabi covering the festivities all night long!
#DHAMI #GetUpGolden #GoldenBC #GoldenRules #RocketsHockey #KIJHL @youngbhangraclub @cfdholis
#Bhangra #Giddha #YBC #apnahockey @reginapatshockey #PackThePlywoodPalace
~~~
Born and raised in Golden BC Jora Dhami like many other locals joined the Golden Minor Hockey program where he displayed skill and passion. For most kids in our small town Midget hockey was as far as most kids went. However, in 1991 the Golden Rockets joined the KIJHL as an expansion franchise. The Rockets first season finished third in their divison.
Jora was a large part of the Rockets building a team in our community. He was an impact player leading the team in goals and points leader along with being a leader both on and off the ice.
Jora accomplishments were remarkable:
League MVP and most sportsmanlike player in 1991, 1992. As well as being the second leading scorer in 1991 with 54 goals in 34 games followed by 46 goals the following season. Rookie of Year in 1991and KIJHL all star in 1991 and 1992. The first ever Rockets goal on home-ice was also scored by Jora.
Aside from ice hockey Jora also played high level ball hockey in the lower mainland and also went to the World Ball Hockey Championships with Team India.
Jora is the only Indo-Canadian hockey player from Golden to have his number retired. Following Jora’s seasons as a Rocket he headed to the WHL’s Regina Pats where he had a great camp to start, however Jora suffered a severe ankle injury that took him out of contention.
Jora could have healed and started to play again, however his grandfather who recently passed at the age of 95, wanted his youngest grandson to graduate with a university degree. As much as he loved the game, Jora knew what his grandparents and parents had sacrificed to come to Canada in order for him and his brother to have a brighter future. Jora attended university and college and continued to play the game he loved at a recreational level with several teams in the lower mainland where he quickly earned the respect of friends and teammates.
This is a huge honor for the Indo-Canadian community, and for the Dhami family. This will be a night for the community of Golden to celebrate the achievements of one of their local sons. It is also a important night for the Indo-Canadian community of Golden. The town of Golden recently became noted as the first town in Canada and North America, where the first Sikh temple was first founded as a place of worship. This was the first temple outside of India and within North America, here in Golden BC.
We are thrilled Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi is here to share this evening with the rest of our country celebrating what our small town has always embraced diversity and equality.
We are lucky to see minorities playing the game and reaching levels of success that we once never thought that could happen. With pioneering players like Jora Dhami showing their talent and love for this great game, honors such as a jersey retirements hold special meaning to the player, the family, and our community.
~ Pavi Khunkhun
