Momentum and anticipation has reached a fever pitch in Enderby for Kraft Hockeyville.
The community is one of four in the running for $250,000 in arena upgrades and an NHL preseason game.
The NHL含羞草研究社檚 Vancouver Canucks caught wind of Enderby含羞草研究社檚 chances and brought former goaltender Kirk McLean and beloved mascot Fin to the Arena on Wednesday, March 27.
含羞草研究社淲e were just so excited,含羞草研究社� said Enderby Mayor Huck Galbraith. 含羞草研究社淲e heard about the Canucks bringing some folks here late on Tuesday and we were able to wrangle some minor hockey players here.含羞草研究社�
The Enderby Arena was shut down for the season in early January after a refrigeration issue. It含羞草研究社檚 impact is far-reaching.
含羞草研究社淲e have 250 players so we run multiple practices weekly,含羞草研究社� said Tracy Berrecloth, vice-president of the North Okanagan Minor Hockey Association. 含羞草研究社淲ith the arena closing in January we lost five tournaments which is a big revenue generator not only for our team but for our association as we are a non-profit.含羞草研究社�
In addition to minor hockey, the local high school含羞草研究社檚 skills academy program was shut down for the season, along with the adjacent curling club.
含羞草研究社淒uring the winter time, one of the funnest things to do is to go skating,含羞草研究社� said Aaron Leon, president of Splatsin Tsm7aksaltn, a First Nations band that utilizes the arena. 含羞草研究社淚 have little kids of my own and I wanted to get them skating this year, but we can含羞草研究社檛 as we have no arena so that含羞草研究社檚 why it is crucial we win.含羞草研究社�
The win will be determined by public votes, which open at 6 a.m. on Friday, March 29 until Saturday, March 30 at 2 p.m. The 32-hour voting window gives everyone the opportunity to vote as many times as you can.
含羞草研究社淏ragging rights are always great,含羞草研究社� said Berrecloth, when asked on what it would mean to win the contest. 含羞草研究社淏ut, the funds to improve the arena would be fantastic for the community.含羞草研究社�
McLean, who is an ambassador for the Vancouver Canucks, pledged his vote for Enderby.
含羞草研究社淥f course I含羞草研究社檒l be voting for them,含羞草研究社� he told The Morning Star. 含羞草研究社淭he Canucks are very proud to come out and try and do as much as possible to make Enderby win.
含羞草研究社淓nderby is a hockey town, the surrounding communities are a hockey town and they are all Vancouver Canucks fans,含羞草研究社� joked McLean. 含羞草研究社淲e are the NHL team that runs the province and the community supports us, so we can get up and do this kind of stuff is a no-brainer at the end of the day.含羞草研究社�
Voting parties will take place on Friday, hosted at the Splatsin Tsm7aksaltn Childcare Centre, Work BC Building and Enderby Legion.
The winner will be announced Saturday at approximately 4:30 p.m. at the first intermission of the CBC-broadcasted NHL game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres.
Visit to vote.
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