The community of West Lorne, Ont., will host the annual Kraft Hockeyville festivities later this year, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced Saturday during Hockey Night in Canada.
Finishing as runners up were the communities of Maple Ridge, B.C.; Ste. Anne, Man.; and Saint-Anselme, Que.
“Over the years Kraft Hockeyville has awarded $4.5 million to 93 communities, and hosted 15 NHL games in eight provinces,” Bettman said Saturday. “In addition, Kraft Hockeyville has played an important role in making our game more inclusive and accessible. The Kraft Hockeyville program continues to fuel the passion and pride of communities from coast to coast, who rally towards this exciting finale. Congratulations to the top four communities.”
As the 2023 grand prize winner, West Lorne -- about a 40-minute drive southwest from London, Ont. -- will receive $250,000 in arena upgrades, $10,000 worth of new hockey equipment courtesy of the NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund, and the opportunity to host an NHL pre-season game. The three runners-up will each receive $25,000 in arena upgrades and $10,000 worth of new equipment, as well.
“It’s absolutely incredible,” West Lorne spokesperson Rob Tait said amid a cheering crowd after news of the announcement broke. “I think the entire community is out here today. They can probably hear us right across the country.”
Atlantic Canada hosted the 2022 iteration of Kraft Hockeyville, with the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators facing off at the Steele Community Centre in Gander, N.L., and the J.K. Irving Centre in Bouctouche, N.B. The pair of games marked the return of the event, after postponements in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Participating teams and broadcast details for the 2023 iteration in West Lorne are still to be announced.
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