Locals at the Princeton and District Arena in 2018.
Image Credit: Google Maps
April 24, 2022 - 9:35 AM
Four finalists are competing for the title of Kraft Hockeyville 2022 and one of them is Princeton.
Kraft Heinz Canada and National Hockey League announced the finalists April 23. Princeton with its Princeton and District Arena is the only B.C. community to make it to the finals.
The finalists include: Princeton, B.C., Douro-Dummer, Ontario, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec and Sydney, Nova Scotia.
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Kraft Hockeyville is dedicated to building stronger, more connected, and inclusive communities across the country through the love of the game of hockey, according to a press release issued by the NHL.
The community finalists were selected based on their nomination stories and their ability to score additional rally points by engaging their community.
After a forest fire threatened Princeton two years ago, the community was hit by widespread floods that are still impacting residents today. “How can I help?” is the mentality of this community, and together, they have been able to overcome any obstacle in their way.
The next obstacle is upgrading the Princeton and District Arena, a community hub. It’s not just a place for hockey but a place used for weddings, dances, fundraisers, funerals, as an emergency shelter and more.
Mayor Spencer Coyne said the arena is the "heartbeat" of the community and it's a key to the town's recreation programs.
"I was excited, we need the money pretty bad. The roof's been suffering for a while and we're not capable of dealing with it this year on top of everything else," he said.
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With its roof in disrepair, water has been pouring onto the ice during games, according to the press release.
The total cost to repair the roof is roughly $250,000 so if Princeton wins, it will cover the cost of roof repairs, Coyne said.
The 2022 grand prize winner will have an opportunity to host an NHL preseason game on a date to be determined by Kraft Heinz Canada, the NHL and NHLPA, and receive $250,000 to be used towards arena upgrades, as well as the coveted title of Kraft Hockeyville 2022. This year’s winner and each of the three runner-up communities will also receive $10,000 worth of new hockey equipment for their minor hockey programs.
Canadians can help determine the winner of Kraft Hockeyville 2022 by voting for one of the finalists online starting May 6 at 9 a.m. ET.
Voting closes May 7 at 5:00 p.m. ET. Votes can only be cast on the website during the voting phase and voting per person is unlimited. The winner will be announced live on Hockey Night in Canada May 7 following the conclusion of the vote.
For more information, visit the Kraft Hockeyville website.
- This story was updated at 10:15 a.m. to include a comment from Coyne.
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