From nearly 3,000 nominations from all across Canada, judges have selected the O’Leary arena as one of the top 10 entries for the title of Kraft Hockeyville 2017.
The Top 10 selections were announced late Saturday night.
All Top-10 entries are already guaranteed $25,000 in arena upgrades, but there is a lot more at stake than that.
From on-line voting on March 12 and 13, the top two arenas in Canada will be announced on March 18, earning those arenas $100,000 in arena upgrades, and then on April 1, the over-all winner will be announced, earning that arena the additional reward of a chance to host an NHL pre-season game.
O’Leary and Bay Roberts, Nfld. Are the only communities in Atlantic Canada to make the cut. Other Eastern Canada communities on the list are Collingwood and Cobden, Ont. And Saint-Ambrose, Qc. The Western Canada finalists are Courtenay, BC, Didsbury and Maskwacis, Al. and Wilkie and Ituna, Sask.
O’Leary came close to winning in the very first Kraft Hockeyville competition in 2006, and many of the organizers behind that push are back this time. They’ve been actively promoting their bid while eagerly awaiting Saturday’s announcement.
