The final four communities just before the announcement from NHL boss Gary Bettman. (Sportsnet image)

By Pete McIntyre

winner declared

Tremendous effort, but no Hockeyville title for Enderby

Mar 30, 2024 | 5:30 PM

Enderby will have to settle for one of the consolation prizes in Kraft Hockeyville 2024.

The winner of the annual event was announced around 5 p.m. Saturday on Hockey Night in Canada by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, as shown in the video below.

The winner, Elliot Lake, Ontario, was one of four finalists along with the North Okanagan city of Enderby, Cochrane, Alberta and Wolseley, Saskatchewan.

Enderby’s bid, led by Kaylee Wells, created major excitment and awareness, and included support from communities around the province, residents from near and far, and even from the Vancouver Canucks.

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Elliot Lake wins the grand prize of $250,000 for arena upgrades and will also get to host an NHL pre-season game. The community in Northern Ontario will use the funds to repair its Centennial Arena which is 55 years old and closed down in September due to unsafe wooden beams.

Enderby, and the other two runners-up, will receive $25,000 for arena upgrades.

Enderby will use its prize money to repair its arena which has been closed since January due to a refrigeration system failure, impacting ice facilities throughout the region.

Online voting on Mar. 29 and 30 determined the winning community.

Countdown to Hockeyville 2024 announcement, excitement building in Enderby
Mar.30, 2024

It’s down to the final hours of voting for Kraft Hockeyville 2024.

The announcement of the winning community will be made in the first intermission of the Hockey Night in Canada broadcast today, around 4:30 p.m.

Enderby is up against Cochrane, AB, Wolseley, SASK, and Elliot Lake, ONT, for the national title.

Voting started on Friday, March 29 at 6:00 a.m.PDT and concludes on to Saturday, March 30 at 2:00 p.m.

Once they register, people can vote as many times as they want over the 32-hour voting period.

To vote, visit Krafthockeyville.ca.

Enderby’s bid has gathered support from all over including Hollywood.

Former junior hockey player and Enderby hockey school coach — now actor — Lochlyn Munro — gave a shout out and asked Canadian hockey fans to vote for Enderby to get their rink back up and running.

A watch party and rally will be held at the Enderby Arena at 1:30 p.m.

The winning community gets 250-thousand dollars from Kraft for arena upgrades, plus the right to host an NHL pre-season game.

All three runners-up will receive $25,000 for arena upgrades.

The successful community will also get $10,000 worth of hockey equipment for youth from the NHLPA’s Goals and Dreams fund.

Voting opens Friday for Kraft Hockeyville, Enderby seeks support
March 30, 2024

The winner of Kraft Hockeyville 2024 will be announced on Saturday after what promises to be two days of frenzied online voting.

The North Okanagan city of Enderby is one of the four finalists in Canada for the title which comes with a 250-thousand dollar grant from Kraft for arena upgrades, plus the right to host an NHL pre-season game. The successful community will also get $10,000 worth of hockey equipment for youth from the NHLPA’s Goals and Dreams fund

Enderby is up against Cochrane, AB, Wolseley, SASK, and Elliot Lake, ONT, in the annual event.

Enderby Mayor Huck Galbraith (left) with Canucks mascot Fin and Hockeyville bid organizer Kaylee Wells (submitted photo/Facebook)

Enderby, a city of about 3,000 residents, has been generating huge excitement and buzz about its bid around the region, the province, and beyond.

A Vote Enderby for Kraft Hockeyville 2024 public group on Facebook has 4,800 members as of Thursday.

Former Vancouver Canucks goalie Kirk McLean visited the community Wednesday for a promotional event, which included games of road hockey with kids, outside the Enderby Arena.

Former Canucks goalie Kirk McLean poses with fans at at event outside the Enderby Arena. (submitted photo/Facebook)

Enderby would use its prize money to repair its arena which has been closed since January due to a refrigeration system failure, impacting ice facilities throughout the region.

Voting for the Kraft Hockeyville will start on Friday, March 29 at 6:00 a.m.PDT and conclude on to Saturday, March 30 at 2:00 p.m.

Once they register, people can vote as many times as they want over the 32-hour voting period.

To vote, visit Krafthockeyville.ca.

Image credit: Facebook

A watch party and rally will be held at the Enderby Arena from 1:30 to 7 p.m. on Saturday (see details below).

Enderby schedule (from Facebook)

People are invited to come out to the arena and curling club to show their community spirit.

“Film crews will be onsite to capture Enderby coming together watching the winner announcement. There will be road hockey (bring your own stick) and hot dogs then we’ll move inside where Hockey Night in Canada will be playing in the Arena and Curling Club lounge,” Kaylee Wells, bid organizer, said.

Enderby is trying to become the second North Okanagan community to win a Hockeyville title after Lumby received the honour in 2016.