Hargurnek (Nick) Singh Sandhu, was born in Jamsher Khas, in Punjab, India. He studied at Cantonment Board Higher Secondary School, Jalandhar in Punjab and emigrated to Canada in 1977 at the age of fifteen.
He graduated at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver in 1988 and played for India Field Hockey Club.
He earned his first senior international cap when he represented Canada against Scotland in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1980 whilst still in the Junior squad. He was Canada's Captain at the Kuala Lumpur 1982 and played at the Vancouver 1985 Junior World Cups. He played at the Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul 1988 Olympic Games and London 1986 and Lahore 1990 World Cups.
He played in the Pan Am Games in 1983 and 1987 winning Gold and the Intercontinental Cup in 1985 and 1989, winning Silver.
He retired from playing international hockey after the Lahore World Cup and turned to Coaching. He was the Head Coach of the Canadian National Team (Men) at the Intercontinental Cup in 1993. He was Canada's assistant Coach at the Men's Hockey World Cup in Utrecht in 1998.
Hargurnek and his younger brother, Hargurpreet Singh Sandhu were members of the 1982 Junior World Cup and 1990 Lahore Hockey World Cup teams together. His daughter, Poonam, has been a member of the Canadian Team since 2009.
Hargurnek (Nick) Singh Sandhu was inducted into the field hockey hall of fame on 8th July 2016.