Bonnyville has been named a top 10 finalist in the Kraft Hockeyville contest. "I am still in a bit of disbelief," said Amanda Cumby, the local resident who spearheaded one of Bonnyville's applications into the contest.
Bonnyville has been named a top 10 finalist in the Kraft Hockeyville contest.
"I am still in a bit of disbelief," said Amanda Cumby, the local resident who spearheaded one of Bonnyville's applications into the contest.
"I was completely shocked when that was announced. I never thought in a million years that Bonnyville would actually come in the top 10."
Bonnyville's recognition as a top hockey community didn't come without a local debate. Several letters published in the Nouvelle argued both for and against the community being a viable entrant into the competition.
The Hockeyville judges had the final say this past Saturday night, and liked what they saw when it came to the community's passion and dedication to hockey. Bonnyville was selected out of 1,037 nominations as one of the 10 finalists for the contest.
"I think it is great," said Mayor Gene Sobolewski. "Bonnyville is a great hockey community. Hockey is our culture."
"I think it is fabulous," said Darcy Skarsen, President of the Bonnyville Minor Hockey Association.
"There is a perfect example of this community's passion for hockey happening right now with the Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs in the playoffs," added Skarsen. "The amount of fans that come out to the games in Bonnyville is double the crowd of other junior teams in the league. Everyone loves hockey and supports it well in Bonnyville."
The winner of the Kraft Hockeyville 2015 will host an NHL preseason game and receive $100,000 in arena upgrades. Second place will also receive $100,000 in arena upgrades. The eight remaining communities will all receive $25,000.
Joining Bonnyville in the top ten is: Chatham, ON, Dawson Creek, BC, Goose Bay, Nfld, Haliburton, ON, Middleton, NS, Morden, MB, Morinville, AB, North Saanich, BC, and St-Joseph De Beauce, QC.
The communities were chosen based on their need of the arena upgrade, community spirit and passion for hockey and living examples of that passion.
"Everybody here just has such a passion for hockey," said Cumby. "They literally do live, eat and breathe hockey. I see it every day at the Centennial Centre. People are so supportive of the kids."
The ten finalists will be weeded down to the top two candidates during a short voting period next weekend. Voting opens at 9 p.m. this Saturday night (March 21) and closes Monday, March 23 at 10 p.m. The top two will be announced March 28.
"We are ready to round up everyone to vote," said Skarsen. "It is a short window, so we will need to hammer the votes in there. I think that if everyone is out voting there is a very good possibility (of Bonnyville winning)."
Votes will be accepted at khv2015.ca.
