The Spencerville Arena is preparing to lace up its skates as it tries to take home the title of Kraft Hockeyville for 2026.
Organizers say they are holding an official launch event this Saturday at the arena.
The festivities, running from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., will mark the kickoff of local efforts and residents, hockey families, and community organizations are being invited to get involved by sharing stories and participating in Hockeyville activities.
Kraft Hockeyville is an annual competition sponsored by Kraft Heinz the National Hockey League and the NHL Players’ Association in which communities compete to demonstrate their commitment to hockey. The winning community hosts an NHL preseason game while also receiving $250,000 towards upgrading their arena and $10,000 in youth hockey equipment.
Wendy Van Keulen is the Community Development Coordinator for the Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal and she tells Moose FM that the Spencerville Arena has held a special place in the community for over fifty years.
“It’s where kids learn to skate, families gather and community life happens. This is our chance to share those stories and just rally people together around a place that really matters.”
The competition has an expanded format this year that nearly triples the total prize pool. One winner from each of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories will be disclosed March 14 and 11 of those winners will be gifted $50,000 for rink upgrades. The final two will be unveiled March 21, followed by voting Apr. 3-4 and the winner to be announced during “Hockey Night in Canada” on Apr. 4.
