Wolseley is one of four Kraft Hockeyville finalists. (Wolseley Sportsplex/Facebook)

By Cam Lee

Kraft Hockeyville

Wolseley looking for support in their quest to become Kraft Hockeyville

Mar 28, 2024 | 3:10 PM

The town of Wolseley is hoping to become the first Saskatchewan community to be named Kraft Hockeyville.

The winner of the annual Kraft Hockeyville contest wins $250,000 and a chance to host a National Hockey League (NHL) game.

“We are the sixth finalist that’s come out of Saskatchewan, and no Saskatchewan team has ever won it before, and I think that’s kind of a travesty,” Kraft Hockeyville media representative Vance Weber told northeastNOW. “We’re really hoping that Wolseley can bring it in for the win for Wolseley and also the win for Saskatchewan.”

Minor hockey binds the community of 850 people together, according to Weber, and the Wolseley Sportsplex is in desperate need of a repair.

“Our ice plant is on year 44 of a 25-year build,” Weber said.

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He explained the plant, which is the oldest of its design still in operation, was doing well and was being maintained. However, tragedy struck when Fire Chief Scott Pollock, who had been performing maintenance on the plant, died in the line of duty in 2020.

The plant has been a little harder to get going each year since Pollock’s tragic passing. The town has raised over $100,000 toward the $600,000 cost of replacing the plant.

“This ($250,000) from Kraft Hockeyville would really help us get closer to that end goal,” explained Weber.

The community rink is about more than hockey, it’s about togetherness. Weber said there’s nothing better than grabbing a coffee and a rink burger and meeting with friends while watching kids chase after the puck.

“Minus 40 (degrees) outside, and a warm heart and a crowd inside.”

The Wolseley Sportsplex serves the community of Wolseley and eight other towns and three local reserves that use the arena on a regular basis. He said surrounding communities have shown their support for the Wolseley Kraft Hockeyville bid, and Wolseley is thankful for their support.

Weber encourages everyone to go to krafthockeyville.ca and register to vote. Voting will be open Friday, Mar. 29 at 7 a.m. and will continue until 3 p.m. Saturday, Mar. 30. People can vote as often as they want during that time.

The winner will be announced during Hockey Night in Canada Saturday night.

“Let’s just hope that the cameras turn to Wolseley during that first intermission,” Weber said. He expects several hundred people to gather at the rink on Saturday and win or lose there will be a party involved.

If Wolseley does win, not only do they get money to help replace their ice plant, they also get to host an NHL game between the Winnipeg Jets and Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks.

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Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW_SK