by Morinville News Staff
Morinville is one of more than 300 communities currently nominated for Kraft Hockeyville 2015. The annual competition provides one Canadian community with a pre-season NHL game and a half million in cash to put into their local arena.
“I nominated us for Kraft Hockeyville 2015 to make sure that we have a place for all of our teams to play,” Gatza said. “Right from initiation to our senior team, plus our fun hockey program, ringette program, and our recreational hockey.”
In putting forth the nomination, Gatza spoke of the community’s love of the game and Morinville’s spirit of volunteerism.
Although the competition is in its initial phase of having Canadians nominate their community, Gatza is preparing for the voting phase, which takes places Mar. 21 to 23, and is looking to that volunteering spirit to make things happen.
“We’re going to have some events that we want people to come out and support,” Gatza said, adding he is looking for volunteers willing to do what they can. “If they want to help organize. If they want to help [to] get banners hung up. Anything to promote Kraft Hockeyville would be wicked because it’s going to take a lot of effort to make sure that we get into the top 10.”
Gatza set the country is split into east and west with five communities in each direction forming the 10 finalists. Those top 10 communities will be announced Mar. 14, a week before public voting begins to narrow the 10 down to just two finalists who will shoot it out for the big prize.
The top winner will host an NHL pre-season game and receive $500,000 for their community’s arena. Second place receives $200,000. Each of the remaining eight top 10 finalists will receive $25,000.
One Morinville resident and familiar face around the ice is Joel Chevalier. The local business owner, hockey player and hockey dad is looking forward to the opportunity for the community. “Being nominated into Kraft Hockeyville is an exciting opportunity for Morinville to show its dedication to our community and our hockey,” he said. “I look forward to sharing our experiences.”
For more information on Kraft Hockeyville 2015 and Morinville’s nomination, visit khv2015.ca/en/nominations/profile/ray-mcdonald-sports-center/. Those taking local hockey photos are asked to use the hash tag #khv_morinville when posting on Twitter or Instagram.
