The seed has been planted for Humboldt’s Elgar Petersen Arena to compete in a nationwide contest that has $250,000 of renovations and a NHL game as its grand prize.
Kraft’s Hockeyville contest is in the nomination stage until Feb. 10. After that, judges will narrow the number of communities down to four.
Stories about an arena are worth 80 per cent of a community’s total score, while a community’s ability to rally for votes is only worth 20 per cent. As of Jan. 21, there have been nine stories submitted.
“The reason I’m standing for the community is I feel that Humboldt could pull together again to show in a positive manner that we have what it takes to be Hockeyville,” wrote the first person to submit a story, who is identified only by the first name Ryan, and begin Humboldt’s bid in the contest. “We know we are – it’s just time to show the rest. Humboldt as a community needs a positive again, something to work towards and something to be proud of. We got what it takes coach – put us in.”
Stories, photos and supporting notes can be submitted at krafthockeyville.ca.
Judges will spend the time between Feb. 11 and March 15 to look at all of the submissions, with the Top 4 finalists announced March 26. Voting will then open from March 29 at 12 pm Eastern and last until March 30 at 8:30 pm Eastern. The winner will be announced March 30.
Humboldt was a finalist for Hockeyville in 2009. It was defeated by Terrace, BC.
If Humboldt makes it to the finals, Rob Muench, Humboldt’s mayor, said the community would have to look at how to organize for the final push.
“I know last time we had involvement with a number of the city’s organizations, the Broncos and everybody all jumped on board,” he said. “It was quite an event in the city. If we do that again, it’s going to be something that involves the whole community.”
