As a Nova Scotia hockey arena continues its fight to become this year’s Kraft Hockeyville, they are asking young and old to come to a weekend-long rally to help them along their way.
The Sackville Arena hopes to win the national contest to not only be awarded $250,000 but also host an NHL Preseason hockey game – and they need all the help they can get.
President of the Sackville Minor Hockey Association, Rob Nurnber tells our newsroom, what they expect this Saturday and Sunday, should be incredible.
“It’s really an opportunity for us to celebrate our incredible community here in the greater Sackville area and really, quite frankly, across HRM. We’re hoping some will even join us from outside HRM.”
Nurnber says there will be musicians, events for the kids and even NHL alumni.
Special place
The arena has been a staple in the community for 53 years.
Nurnber says if they did end up winning Kraft Hockeyville, it would be the icing on the cake for what the arena means to the community and bringing people together.
He says, it’s about more than just hockey.
“You know for me it’s an opportunity for us to celebrate the community, the history…all of the incredible things that have come because of that actual structure being there. We’ve had individuals that have been married at centre ice because they met at the arena. The lifelong friendships that our children make.”
Proceeds to help fire victims
The commitment to the community doesn’t end with the arena.
Less than a week ago, three children ages five, six and nine, died in a devastating house fire in Lower Sackville.
The Duplex on Riverside Drive was destroyed and the family lost everything.
Nurnber says, proceeds from the rally this weekend were initially intended for necessary repairs to the arena, but will now support the victims.
“You know we’re all one big family at the end of the day. It’s really important that we are here to support each other.”
How to vote for the Sackville Arena
The first step in winning Kraft Hockeyville, is for the Sackville Arena to make it to the top four of those in the competition.
Nurnber says to go to the Hockeyville webpage to upload photos and stories of what the arena means to you, to generate the points they need to get there.
“Once we’re in the final four, then it will go to the Kraft Hockeyville committee for the final judging and evaluation, then they’ll determine who the winner is going to be. It would be absolutely incredible.”
