ASSINIBOIA – The nomination deadline for Kraft Hockeyville is looming - Feb. 19 to be exact. There’s excitement on the streets of Assiniboia as patrons of the Southland Co-op Centre diligently post content to the contest website.
Since 2006, the Kraft Hockeyville promotion has been helping communities across Canada upgrade their facilities, and celebrate winter sports. The annual contest awards $250,000 to the top community, plus an NHL pre-season game. To date, no community in Saskatchewan has received the big honour, something people in and around Assiniboia would like to change with their collective bid.
“People have been great,” said Steph VanDeSype, Recreation and Community Wellness Manager with the Town of Assiniboia. “The volunteerism has been very positive.”
Right now, the main push is getting content onto the website (hockeyville.kraftcanada.ca). While photos have been primarily uploaded, other options such as video, or written contributions also exist. There’s no official counter on which community is in the lead, but VanDeSype noted Assiniboia is “neck and neck” with some of the more prolific locales posting images. In fact, over 800 posts have come from Assiniboia alone.
There’s one more push coming up with a food drive at the Southland Co-op Centre on Feb. 16. There will be a photobooth set up, giving visitors one more chance to upload content to the site. Non-perishable food items and monetary proceeds will go to the Assiniboia Salvation Army Food Bank.
After the closing date for nominations, it’s into the judging phase, then a Top Four announcement on March 11. According to VanDeSype, that announcement could make for one rowdy rink as a hockey tournament is in town.
