Two years ago, it was the community of Pense that attracted the attention of voters looking to bring Kraft Hockeyville home to Saskatchewan.
Last year, it was Lumsden’s turn to spark the imagination of what they would do with the $250,000 for arena upgrades and how much fun it would be to host a National Hockey League pre-season game.
So who will it be this time around?
Nominations for Kraft Hockeyville have officially opened, with the annual contest now accepting community stories on their nomination webpage at www.krafthockeyville.ca.
Making things even more interesting this time around is the Hockeyville community survey that took place prior to nominations opening, offering a revealing look at the game across Canada and specifically in Prairie communities.
The survey found that 85 per cent of Canadians agree that hockey is a catalyst that brings communities together, with nearly half of respondents adding that the pandemic had a negative effect on that connection.
The survey also found that the cost to play the sport is a major factor preventing growth, with 78 per cent of Canadians feeling their community would benefit from having more programs available to cover the average of $1,700 a player every year. That number rose to 87 per cent among the Prairie provinces.
That’s one of the areas Kraft Hockeyville is attempting to help, with donations of equipment on top of the regular arena upgrade and exhibition game prizes.
It’s all with the goal of getting more youngsters involved in the game and expanding the sport’s reach through as many means as possible, something Hockeyville partner and three-time Olympic hockey gold medalist Marie-Philip Poulin is a part of.
“There’s no way around it, this year's Olympic experience was unique. But even though there weren’t many fans in the stands, our team was invigorated by our love for the game – a love that, for many of us, started as kids the moment we hit the ice at our community rink,” Poulin said in a press release. “Hockey in my community instilled a sense of belonging in me and allowed me to make lifelong connections. The benefits are endless, and that's why all Canadians should have access and the opportunity to play. Nobody should be left out.”
Kraft Hockeyville has awarded $4.1 million to 89 communities since its inception in 2006. That includes 2021 winner Elsipogtog First Nation, who used the funds to repair their fire-damaged arena, and 2020 victor Twillingate, N.L., who performed a ton of repairs to their aging rink, including a leaking roof.
In addition to the $250,000 and NHL game, each of the four finalists receive $50,000 to purchase new hockey equipment through the NHLPA Goals and Dreams Fund.
Those looking to support their community hockey programs are asked to submit their stories at www.Krafthockeyville.ca before Apr. 3 at 11:59 p.m., after which judging will take place until Apr. 23. The top four will be announced on that date, after which public voting will take place from 9 a.m. on May 6 to 5 p.m. on May 7. The winner will be announced on Hockey Night in Canada on May 7.
