REDVERS — Redvers has entered into the Kraft Hockeyville contest, but now the town needs the public’s support to advance Redvers to the next level.
Currently, the Kraft Hockeyville campaign is in its first phase, Nomination and Rally. The nomination process opened on Jan. 1, wraps up on March 2 and has an important make-or-break component — public engagement. An arena’s score is based mostly on the story submission, but “rally points” are vitally important to advancing to the next level.
How that part works is through the Hockeyville website. On the Redvers Rec Centre arena rally page, people can post content and increase the overall point count until the nomination phase closes.
“Every story is worth 10 points, stories are the big thing, and then we get three points for every photo you submit, but you’re only allowed five photos a person,” explains Nadyne Pryde, Recreation Director in Redvers. “You can post a note for a point, and every time you like someone’s story or photo, we get points for that as well.”
Essentially, the rally page is a place where people can share fond memories, photos of having fun at the rink, or even just a simple “Go Rockets!” note.
“I was actually looking through them this morning, reading a few stories, and there’s some great things out there, different perspectives with the story,” Pryde said. “And the pictures are amazing. I particularly like the old pictures!”
For folks who may not be tech-savvy, Pryde says to stop by the Rec Centre or Town Office and staff can help get their content onto the website.
Reflecting on the recent cold snap and the start of Big 6 Hockey League playoffs featuring the first-place Redvers Rockets, Pryde gave special kudos to the fans who piled into the arena.
“The Big 6 fans are beyond far the best fans I’ve ever witnessed in my lifetime,” she said. “Oxbow came to Redvers last night, it was the coldest night of the year, and our rink was almost full. Game One of the series, and the rink was almost full on the coldest night of the year. So Big 6 fans by far are the best!”
The nomination phase for Kraft Hockeyville closes on March 2, then judging takes place from March 3 to 15, resulting in the top four communities 小蓝视频 announced. Voting happens on April 4 and 5, with the winning announcement proclaimed on the 5th as well.
What is Hockeyville?
For nearly two decades, the cross-country Kraft Hockeyville project has been gathering communities together, using community pride to help repair ageing infrastructure and encouraging even the smallest of communities to dream big.
There’s a prize of $250,000 for the winning community, plus the opportunity to host a pre-season NHL game, and of course, bragging rights. Since Kraft Hockeyville first began in 2006, over $5.1 million has been awarded to 101 communities to maintain or upgrade sports and recreation infrastructure across Canada. Three runner-up communities are also awarded $25,000 for arena upgrades, plus the top four finalists also receive $10,000 in new hockey equipment for kids, thanks to the NHLPA’s Goals & Dreams program.
“Wolseley got $25,000 last year, so that’s nothing to shake a stick at either,” said Pryde. Emboldened by the success of Wolseley and the encouragement of a Redvers town councillor, Pryde decided to enter a nomination for Redvers.
“One of the town councillors came over and asked about it, and I thought about it, read a little bit more, and I’m like, ‘you know, why not? Wolseley last year was a top competitor. So if Wolseley can do it, we can do it.”
Winning the grand prize would certainly help with some much-needed arena repairs, Pryde explained.
“We have rolled roofing and it is past its prime, so the roofing needs to be redone,” she said of the top priority item on the ‘fix-it’ list. “There’s probably going to be ice plant maintenance in the spring. We’re hoping we can make it through the winter, and there’s always ice plant issues.”
A new roof for the Redvers Recreation Centre will cost at least $300,000 according to an estimate Pryde received two years ago. Being the first centre in Saskatchewan to claim the grand prize would put a significant dent in the much-needed upgrade.
