West Lorne hoping for Kraft Hockeyville win to make arena less crowded – London | 24CA News

Voting is now open for Kraft Hockeyville, and with West Lorne decked out in gold and black, the neighborhood is asking all people to vote as a lot as attainable.

West Lorne is one in all 4 finalists within the nationwide contest, which provides $250,000 to the successful neighborhood for upgrades to the sector. The successful neighborhood additionally receives the chance to host an NHL pre-season sport.

West Lorne is the one Ontario-based neighborhood left; the opposite finalists are Saint-Anselme, Que., Maple Ridge, B.C., and Ste. Anne, Man.

If West Lorne wins, the $250,000 prize would go towards upgrading the West Lorne Arena by increasing the nice and cozy space of the rink and putting in a brand new entrance with bigger doorways, together with turning the present skate-sharpening/workplace space right into a dressing room.

Community officers say the present setup of 4 small dressing rooms isn’t sufficient through the busy hockey season, particularly throughout tournaments. With document numbers within the under-7 division and 11 minor hockey groups plus a males’s and ladies’s league, West Lorne Minor Hockey Association president Kevin Summers says the prize from successful could be an incredible assist.

“We’re looking to keep growing this organization and keep these kids coming in and we can’t do that with the space we have,” Summers stated.

The marketing campaign behind West Lorne was a last-minute affair Summers stated, however the neighborhood rallied to recover from 800 submissions in below per week to get the neighborhood into the ultimate 4.

“You really can’t put into words the unity that’s come from this and the support from everyone,” Summers stated.

Both Summers and West Elgin Coun. Bill Denning say that win or lose, the momentum from Kraft Hockeyville will assist convey collectively the communities of West Lorne, Rodney and Dutton for years to come back.

“It’s kind of like we’ve been waiting for this to bring us all together,” Denning stated. “We’ve created a bond in our communities that has never been there before and I couldn’t be more proud of how people have come together.”

During the kickoff to voting, which opened at 9 a.m. Friday, there was a poignant second when the household of the late West Elgin Mayor Duncan McPhail, who died on March 11, got here ahead to talk to the gathered crowd inside the sector.

“Duncan would just love this, and he would be so proud of everyone coming together to make this happen,” stated Norma McPhail, Duncan’s widow.

“I know he’s cheering us on and let’s do it for Duncan.”

New York Islanders centreman Bo Horvat, who grew up in Rodney and realized the sport as a West Lorne Comet, posted a video message of help for the neighborhood on Thursday.

“I have so many fond memories of playing in West Lorne and being a West Lorne Comet,” stated Horvat, commenting on with the ability to win the 2003 Silver Stick for his division as an enduring reminiscence.

Reminiscing on his time spent enjoying minor hockey, attending energy skating classes, or simply going to public skating on the West Lorne Arena, Horvat ended his message by wishing the neighborhood the most effective of luck in successful the competition and asking everybody to vote.

“To bring Kraft Hockeyville to West Lorne would be pretty special,” Horvat stated.

Two present West Lorne Comets, Mason Toth and Hunter Gill, inform Global News the Kraft Hockeyville marketing campaign has been a whole lot of enjoyable and seeing the help from folks like Horvat provides to how particular it’s.

“It’s really fun being a part of the West Lorne Comets, especially because Bo Horvat played for the Comets,” stated Toth, a U11 rep participant.

To assist get the vote out, West Lorne is internet hosting a plethora of actions Friday and Saturday on the West Lorne Arena and West Elgin Secondary School.

On Friday on the enviornment, the West Elgin Secondary School varsity hockey crew will tackle highschool alums beginning at 1:30 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., the puck drops between the U18 West Lorne Comets and previous skilled Comets alums, together with Horvat’s brother Cal enjoying and father Tim teaching.

On Saturday, issues kick off with the ladies’s alum sport at 8 a.m., adopted by the U7, U8, U9 and U11 groups hitting the ice till 1 p.m. when a free public skate will happen till 2:30 p.m.

The festivities will then transfer to the West Elgin Secondary School, the place there shall be music and a youngsters’ zone with a hockey abilities competitors at 3 p.m. that includes particular company.

Voting is limitless and obtainable via hockeyville.kraftcanada.ca till 5 p.m. Saturday. The winner shall be introduced throughout Saturday evening’s first Hockey Night in Canada sport.

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