Kraft Hockeyville competition down to five finalists
by Brian ComptonThe Kraft Hockeyville 2010 competition is down to five towns.
The remaining finalists were announced on CBC during "Hockey Night in Canada" on Saturday night as people across Canada inch closer to determining which town will follow Terrace, B.C., as Kraft Hockeyville.
The winner of the competition, which will be announced on April 3, will host an NHL preseason game in September that will be broadcast on CBC. The town will also receive $100,000 from Kraft that will go towards arena upgrades.
Nearly 2,000,000 votes were tallied over a 12-day span.
"The Top 12 did an excellent job motivating their communities and it's been exciting to watch the votes pour in," said Dino Bianco, President, Kraft Canada. "Now that we’re nearing the final stages, the competition is getting even more intense. We wish the Top 5 communities the best of luck. Keep those votes coming. It’ll be a race to the finish."
Here is a closer look at the five finalists:
WEST
CRANBROOK, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Population: 18,267
Votes: 358,269
Scott Niedermayer (Anaheim) on Cranbrook:
"My brother and I grew up in Cranbrook, and still come back every summer, and there's no doubt in my mind it's the best hockey community in the West. I know that our many friends back home will make Kraft Hockeyville the event of the century if Canadians go out and vote for Cranbrook."
ONTARIO
DUNDAS
Population: 24,394
Votes: 287,234
Adam Mair (Buffalo) on Dundas:
"Dundas is a beautiful town, and any hockey player from the Hamilton-area always had a tough game playing at Market Street Arena against the kids from Dundas growing up. The people there love their hockey, and deserve to be crowned Kraft Hockeyville."
QUEBEC
STANSTEAD
Population: 3,000
Votes: 74,888
The Stanstead community is situated very close to the U.S. border and at times, the community has shared the arena with American neighbors.
David Perron (St. Louis) on Stanstead, QC:
"Not many Canadians know about Stanstead, but hockey means the world to them. I played in Stanstead many times growing up –and still do from time to time in the summer - and the community always gets behind their players no matter what age group. Bringing an NHL game to Stanstead would be amazing for everyone. They have my vote for sure, and I hope hockey fans across Canada support them!"
EAST
BISHOP'S FALLS, NEWFOUNDLAND
Population: 3,399
Votes: 293,412
Dan Cleary (Detroit) on Bishop Falls:
"I know my hometown of Harbour Grace came really close to winning Kraft Hockeyville last year, that's why everyone needs to get out there and vote to bring the title to Newfoundland and Labrador and the people of Bishop’s Falls."
WILD CARD
LAWRENCETOWN, NOVA SCOTIA
Population: 668
Votes: 190,594
The Lawrencetown community purchased an old Zamboni from the Kijiji online marketplace and fundraised the money needed to restore it to working condition.
Jon Sim (NY Islanders) on Lawrencetown:
"I've had the opportunity to play in two Kraft Hockeyville games with the Islanders so I know first-hand how much a small community gets behind the event. If there’s any town in the Maritimes that is worthy of being Kraft Hockeyville, it's definitely Lawrencetown. Come on Canada, vote to bring Hockeyville to the Annapolis Valley."
Canadians have until March 31 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET to determine which of the Top 5 communities will win the Kraft Hockeyville 2010 title and can vote via the following official voting mechanisms; online by visiting CBCSports.ca/hockeyville, via telephone by calling 1-866-533-8066 or by texting "vote" plus the community name to 111888. Texting is capped at 25 texts per day per mobile number, and there is a 15 cent per text charge plus any carriage fees in addition to standard text messaging rates. Data charges may also apply.
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The remaining finalists were announced on CBC during "Hockey Night in Canada" on Saturday night as people across Canada inch closer to determining which town will follow Terrace, B.C., as Kraft Hockeyville.
The winner of the competition, which will be announced on April 3, will host an NHL preseason game in September that will be broadcast on CBC. The town will also receive $100,000 from Kraft that will go towards arena upgrades.
Nearly 2,000,000 votes were tallied over a 12-day span.
"The Top 12 did an excellent job motivating their communities and it's been exciting to watch the votes pour in," said Dino Bianco, President, Kraft Canada. "Now that we’re nearing the final stages, the competition is getting even more intense. We wish the Top 5 communities the best of luck. Keep those votes coming. It’ll be a race to the finish."
Here is a closer look at the five finalists:
WEST
CRANBROOK, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Population: 18,267
Votes: 358,269
Scott Niedermayer (Anaheim) on Cranbrook:
"My brother and I grew up in Cranbrook, and still come back every summer, and there's no doubt in my mind it's the best hockey community in the West. I know that our many friends back home will make Kraft Hockeyville the event of the century if Canadians go out and vote for Cranbrook."
DUNDAS
Population: 24,394
Votes: 287,234
Adam Mair (Buffalo) on Dundas:
"Dundas is a beautiful town, and any hockey player from the Hamilton-area always had a tough game playing at Market Street Arena against the kids from Dundas growing up. The people there love their hockey, and deserve to be crowned Kraft Hockeyville."
QUEBEC
STANSTEAD
Population: 3,000
Votes: 74,888
The Stanstead community is situated very close to the U.S. border and at times, the community has shared the arena with American neighbors.
David Perron (St. Louis) on Stanstead, QC:
"Not many Canadians know about Stanstead, but hockey means the world to them. I played in Stanstead many times growing up –and still do from time to time in the summer - and the community always gets behind their players no matter what age group. Bringing an NHL game to Stanstead would be amazing for everyone. They have my vote for sure, and I hope hockey fans across Canada support them!"
EAST
BISHOP'S FALLS, NEWFOUNDLAND
Population: 3,399
Votes: 293,412
Dan Cleary (Detroit) on Bishop Falls:
"I know my hometown of Harbour Grace came really close to winning Kraft Hockeyville last year, that's why everyone needs to get out there and vote to bring the title to Newfoundland and Labrador and the people of Bishop’s Falls."
WILD CARD
LAWRENCETOWN, NOVA SCOTIA
Population: 668
Votes: 190,594
The Lawrencetown community purchased an old Zamboni from the Kijiji online marketplace and fundraised the money needed to restore it to working condition.
Jon Sim (NY Islanders) on Lawrencetown:
"I've had the opportunity to play in two Kraft Hockeyville games with the Islanders so I know first-hand how much a small community gets behind the event. If there’s any town in the Maritimes that is worthy of being Kraft Hockeyville, it's definitely Lawrencetown. Come on Canada, vote to bring Hockeyville to the Annapolis Valley."
Canadians have until March 31 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET to determine which of the Top 5 communities will win the Kraft Hockeyville 2010 title and can vote via the following official voting mechanisms; online by visiting CBCSports.ca/hockeyville, via telephone by calling 1-866-533-8066 or by texting "vote" plus the community name to 111888. Texting is capped at 25 texts per day per mobile number, and there is a 15 cent per text charge plus any carriage fees in addition to standard text messaging rates. Data charges may also apply.