Kraft Heinz, in partnership with the National Hockey League (NHL) and the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA), has announced the Top 4 finalists competing for the coveted title of Kraft Hockeyville 2023. Those communities are (from West to East):
• Maple Ridge, British Columbia (Maple Ridge Planet Ice)
• Ste. Anne, Manitoba (Maurice Chaput Arena)
• West Lorne, Ontario (West Lorne Arena)
• Saint-Anselme, Quebec (Centre Sportif Bellechasse-Dorchester)
Over the last 17 years, Kraft Hockeyville has awarded $4.5 million to 93 communities to support Canada’s aging sports and recreation infrastructure. The program is dedicated to building stronger, more connected, and inclusive communities across the country through the love of the game of hockey. The Top 4 community finalists are one step closer to cementing their place as part of the program’s longstanding legacy, alongside most recent winners Sydney, Nova Scotia (2022); Elsipogtog First Nation, New Brunswick (2021); and Twillingate, Newfoundland and Labrador (2020).
In a very close competition, the Top 4 community finalists were selected based on their nomination stories and their ability to score additional rally points by engaging their community and demonstrating their passion and pride for the game of hockey.
“This year’s program has once again reinforced the important role passionate hockey communities play in both growing the game and making it more inclusive and accessible for all Canadians,” said Adam Butler, President, Kraft Heinz Canada. “We received thousands of entries from deserving communities and narrowing it to four finalists was certainly a challenge. This year’s Top 4 finalists truly embody the heart and soul of hockey and now it’s up to Canada to vote for the winning community.”
The 2023 grand prize winner will have an opportunity to host an NHL® preseason game and receive $250,000 to be used towards arena upgrades, in addition to the coveted title of Kraft Hockeyville 2023. This year’s winner, and each of the three runner-up communities, will also receive $10,000 worth of new hockey equipment for their minor hockey programs, courtesy of the NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund.
All Canadians from coast-to-coast can play a role in determining the winner of Kraft Hockeyville 2023 by voting for one of the Top 4 communities online at krafthockeyville.ca. Voting opens on March 31 at 9:00 a.m. ET and closes on April 1 at 5:00 p.m. ET. Votes per person are unlimited but can only be cast on the website during the voting phase. The winner will be announced live on Hockey Night in Canada the evening of April 1 following the conclusion of the voting phase.
For complete contest rules and programs details, and to learn more about the Top 4 finalists, including their stories, photos, and videos, please visit krafthockeyville.ca.
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