"Success isn't measured by trophies but by the values you instill in your children. Watching Jujhar grow into a self-sufficient, good-hearted individual who values family is our greatest achievement."- Sukhjinder Khaira
Sukhjinder Khaira and Komal Khaira
Parents of Jujhar Khaira
Sukhjinder and Komal Khaira immigrated to Canada as children, growing up in Clearwater and Victoria, British Columbia, respectively. In the 1980s, they were prominent sports players themselves, volleyball and basketball mostly, and watching them play is what spiked Jujhar’s interest in sports. Their athletic background laid a solid foundation for the values they instilled in Jujhar and his siblings early on. Jujhar Khaira, the third NHL player of Punjabi descent, currently plays for the Syracuse Crunch in the AHL and has represented the Edmonton Oilers, Chicago Blackhawks, and Minnesota Wild in the NHL.
The Khairas’ journey as parents of young champions began with introducing their children to different sports to keep them active and engaged. While ice hockey wasn’t a game they had played before, they quickly noticed Jujhar’s affinity for the sport. “He took a liking to ice hockey and absolutely enjoyed his power skating classes,” Komal recalls. From that point onwards, their encouragement and support became a constant throughout Jujhar’s sporting journey.
Raising not one but three athletes came with its challenges. Both Sukhjinder and Komal prioritized creating a strong mental and emotional foundation for all their kids, taking in important advice from a coach: “You don’t have to talk about the game until 24 hours have passed.” Jujhar’s younger brother, Sahvan Khaira, plays professional ice hockey, too, so dinner table conversations were almost always about sports. But Komal made it a point to separate the pressures of the game from everyday life and ensured they had moments of lighthearted fun between games and hectic training schedules.
Jujhar credits his parents with his excellence in sports. In an earlier conversation, he thanked them for the work they put into nurturing his sports dreams. “Running three kids around for different activities wasn’t easy, but we relied on each other. It is more teamwork and time management than anything else,” says Komal. As both of them played professionally, they understood the balance required when it came to guiding their kids while also allowing them to make mistakes: “We didn’t know a lot about hockey, but we noticed his passion for the game, and luckily he knew what was needed of him. We placed our faith in him and supported him in every way.”
As South Asian parents, Sukhjinder and Komal are grateful for the family they had around, which helped Jujhar and his siblings to become the people they are today: “His dad was his role model to become a good individual with a strong sense of integrity and family, and the community at Cloverdale was extremely supportive of Jujhar, which made his journey even more seamless. Our parents taught us to raise kids a certain way when it came to sports, and that helped us a lot. ” For the Khairas, success is not the number of trophies lined up at home but more about the values they’ve instilled in their children. Sukhjinder and Komal’s collective journey has been one of teamwork and perseverance, an attribute key to raising champions at home.
Q&A
1. How did you ensure that your child’s mental health is prioritized, especially in the high-pressure world of sports?
We always checked in with Jujhar after the game, not necessarily about the game itself, but to ask how he’s feeling. We stay open to discussing hockey when he wants to, and we’re always ready to listen and offer feedback when he asks.
2. What has been your biggest success as a parent in this journey?
Our biggest success is seeing all our kids grow into self-sufficient, good-hearted individuals who value family. Jujhar wants to be home, spend time with us, and has great faith in God, which means the world to us.
3. What advice would you give other parents raising young athletes?
Give them opportunities to try different sports, let them have fun, and follow their lead. Always be present and recognize their needs without pushing too hard.
4. What's a message you’d like to share with young athletes pursuing their dreams?
Never give up, and always be a good person first. The same people you meet on the way up will be there on the way down.
