TYNE VALLEY, P.E.I. — There is a $250,000 cash prize up for grabs for the winning entry in the 2020 Kraft Hockeyville competition, and the fundraising committee for a new Tyne Valley and Area Community Sports Centre is going for it.
“Two hundred and fifty thousand can’t build a new rink, but it can be a great start to our fundraising campaign,” said Adam MacLennan, manager of the community sports centre until it was destroyed by fire on Dec. 29.
MacLennan, who now chairs the fundraising committee, said conservative estimates place the cost of a new facility between six and eight million dollars.
He said the Kraft Hockeyville grand prize would go a long way towards the committee’s goal of raising upwards of $1,000,000.
Insurance is expected to cover some of the construction costs, and MacLennan said both the provincial and federal levels of government seemed receptive during initial talks to helping out.
“I think everyone’s positive it’s going to get done.”
The sports centre’s misfortune was shared with Hockey Night in Canada viewers last Saturday, and was followed up with a comment that the community might want to get on the Hockeyville bandwagon.
As it turns out, MacLennan said the first planning meeting for the Hockeyville submission was held earlier that day.
The application has since been submitted. As of Wednesday morning, it was already being backed up by nearly 400 nominations.
The kick-off to the Hockeyville campaign happens Saturday, Jan. 11, and supporters are encouraged to be in the sports centre parking lot by 9:30 a.m. for official group photos and videos in support of the submission.
Tyne Valley Tornadoes jerseys will be proudly worn, and more than 300 supporters are expected.
Following the photo-taking, between 10 a.m. and noon, anyone who needs help with submitting a nomination or photos in support is invited to the Tyne Valley Fire Hall, across the road, where volunteers will provide assistance.
Hockeyville’s winning community also gets an opportunity to host an NHL exhibition game. The O’Leary Community Sports Centre became the first P.E.I. winner of the national prize nearly three years ago and was treated to an NHL exhibition game in Summerside between the Ottawa Senators and New Jersey Devils.
The Tyne Valley committee has already had preliminary talks with O’Leary committee members and plans to sit down with them for tips on moving their application forward.
In a letter the fundraising committee has circulated this week, it states, “We are obviously promoting the Hockeyville passion for hockey and asking anyone with anything related to hockey to bring it along as well as any Kraft product such as Kraft Dinner, Kraft Peanut Butter, Kraft Jam, Kraft Jell-O, etc. We will be promoting these products and then donating them to the local Caring Cupboard. Whether you are a hockey player, figure skater, avid Rock the Boat and Oyster Festival attendee or just a community member who supports us in this cause, please come out and be a part of this amazing opportunity.”
