ElliotLakeToday was on hand in the Foodland lobby this morning, talking with Elliot Lakers about Kraft Hockeyville. And Elliot Lakers are pumped and getting ready to vote, vote, vote!
Elliot Lake is one of four finalists in the contest – and the only one located in Ontario – that will be won by the community that gets the most votes online. Among the prizes that will be awarded is $250,000 to be used to repair and upgrade the Centennial Arena. The arena was closed in September 2023 when structural faults were discovered in the roof and this money would help to reopen it.
The 32-hour voting window opens at 9 a.m. on Friday, March 29 and closes at 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 30. Those aged 14 and up from across Canada can vote several times through KraftHockeyville.ca. People are urged to pre-register to make the process easier.
Here are a few comments from the folks we talked to:
Robbie Campbell, “I think it will be a huge helping hand. A step forward in the remedies of our issues at the arena. Mainly, it’s getting the kids back into their home arena."
Sarah Novotny, “It can bring back the hockey to the arena and it will bring people back to town.”
Astrid Turner, “It means reopening the arena. Something we haven’t had since September. It’s something the town needs and I feel strongly about it and I’ll be voting for it.”
Anthony Wright, “I hope to get the arena in shape so we can get our team back on the ice.”
Stuart Chamey, “I’m already registered and ready to vote on Friday and Saturday. This will change things for these kids – they don’t even have a place to skate anymore. It’ll be wonderful for the skating club too. The kids in this town need it and so do the adults.”
Sandra Kelterborn, “It would just mean so much all around but mostly to support our children. They need that. They need a place to skate – we talk about ‘keeping them out of trouble’ – this is one of the best ways to do it, get them involved in the sports and give them a place to be able to play. And it will bring people into the community and raise money, all the way around. And that’s what we need.”
Mayor declares Hockey Week in Elliot Lake
A proclamation by Mayor Andrew Wannan declared March 25 to 31, 2024 as Hockey Week in the city of Elliot Lake.
"I encourage you to wear your jerseys, fly tour team’s flag on your car or home, get outside and play some ball hockey regardless of your age and put a Kraft Hockeyville poster in your window. No matter what team you cheer for we want to see everyone support the cause and help us win Kraft Hockeyville 2024!"
Andrew Wannan, Mayor
Pre-register here. Bookmark the page so you can return to vote.