Cochrane is in the homestretch as Kraft Hockeyville voting commences on Mar. 29.
All the hype and all the hope leading into the vote shows what Cochrane is really made of, says Mayor Jeff Genung.
“The support we have received has been overwhelming,” said Genung. “I was at the Flames game last night (Mar. 24) with the Minister of Tourism and Sport on the jumbotron between periods to try to get the Sea of Red to support us. Really, it has been about bringing this back to Alberta. The province is behind us, and it is really cool to see all these people talking about Cochrane.”
“It’s a wonderful community, and we deserve to be recognized,” agreed Erin Wagner, CEO of the Spray Lake Sawmills Recreation Park Society, which is the driving force behind the local Kraft Hockeyville campaign. “The title of Canada’s top hockey town? It doesn’t get much better than that.
“Cochrane really deserves to be Kraft Hockeyville,” Wagner added, “and I want the community to understand that. We need to lean in to have the title of Canada’s top hockey town on Saturday evening when it’s announced.”
With voting taking place starting at 7 a.m. on March 29 and continuing through March 30 until 3 p.m., the time to get behind the community’s drive to bring home $250,000 for the Cochrane Arena renovations is now, said Genung.
“I just think everyone needs to set aside some time on the 29th and 30th to vote continuously, non-stop,” said Genung. “Just vote, vote, vote; there is no limit to how many times you can vote. Communities build arenas, but it is the arena which really builds our community. It’s a good way for people to give back.”
In order to hype things up to the max coming into Friday’s Kraft Hockeyville voting period, Wagner said there will be a huge rally at the Cochrane Arena on Thursday, March 28 starting at 4:30 p.m.
“We will have a whole bunch of hockey-themed activities,” she said. “We will have food trucks. We will have some speeches, and then we are going to kick things off with the opening game of our YELNATS Cup U18 tournament. We hope to see thousands of our community members out there, and just generating excitement for what’s about to happen the next morning when voting kicks off at 7 a.m.”
Genung said it is not just Cochrane residents getting behind the effort, but also voters from across the province preparing to cast their votes. Cochrane is the only community in Alberta up for Kraft Hockeyville this year.
“Sylvan Lake was the last time it was in Alberta, and that was 10 years ago now,” he said. “Each of those last 10 years it has gone outside of our province, and we just think it is time to show Alberta a little bit of love, and let’s have the votes come into Cochrane!”
Wagner concurred, but also reminded Cochrane voters of the unique pride and prestige which comes with the Hockeyville win.
“Financial is obviously important with the $250,000 we can put toward some of those user experience upgrades at Cochrane Arena,” she said. “But not to lose sight of the once in a lifetime opportunity to host a pre-season NHL game here in Cochrane, and just putting Cochrane on the national stage.”
“Let’s go, Cochrane,” said Genung in closing. “Do your part! Cochrane has an amazing community spirit, and this is just going to be a way for people to show that and get behind our hockey, skating and ice community.”
Other organizations are also making efforts to support Cochrane’s Kraft Hockeyville bid this week, and various events are planned to support Kraft Hockeyville in the community.
Thursday, March 28
4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Let’s Rally at Cochrane Arena. Skating, glitter tattoos, hair colouring, noise makers, posters, mini donuts, mascot dance off. It’s going to be a blast! FREE Colt Transit: KraftHockeyville (slscentre.com)
Check out all the action of Yelnats Cup U18 Hockey Tournament at Cochrane Arena and SLS Centre all weekend long.
Make sure you have registered to vote! https://hockeyville.kraftcanada.ca/#/landing
Friday, March 29
7 a.m. Voting begins.
\Need help voting? Visit our Hockeyville Hub at SLS Centre all day long. Enjoy Kraft Hockeyville specials at Patsy’s Place, Jugo Juice, and On The Rocks Lounge, games and activations. Food drive.
Watch for CMHA Cheer stations around our community Friday and Saturday. “Honk if you love Hockeyville!”
12 p.m. to 3 p.m. The Cochrane Generals and Save-On-Foods are teaming up to rally the troops on Friday, March 29 with a special celebration event from noon until 3 p.m. at the store on 65 Bow Street. The Generals players will be posing for photos and signing autographs, and Save-On-Foods will be providing free hotdogs to all who come out while quantities last.
12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. Free Public Skating at SLS Centre
4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Free Public Skating at SLS Centre
6 p.m. to close Games night in On The Rocks Lounge @ SLS Centre. Darts. Pool. Crib. Beer specials!
Saturday, March 30
7 a.m. Wake up and VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!
9 a.m. to 1 p.m Eggapoolooza @ SLS Centre (registration required). Visit Hockeyville Hub after your swim and VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!
10 a.m. CMHA Mini Sticks Float @ SLS Centre. Come and play with us!
12:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. Free Public Skating @ SLS Centre
3 p.m. Hockey Night in Canada Kraft Hockeyville Announcement Party at SLS Centre begins. Watch the games and reveal in the SLS Centre main atrium or join the watch party in On The Rocks Lounge.
5:00 p.m. Hockey Night in Canada Watch Party @ SLS Centre. 3 NHL Games – Toronto/Buffalo, Carolina/Montreal, Ottawa/Winnipeg. Winner will be announced in the first intermission.
Let’s show the nation that Cochrane is Canada’s Top Hockey Town!
