Wolseley falls short in Kraft Hockeyville bid
Wolseley may not have won Kraft Hockeyville, but organizers don't feel like they lost either.
The Saskatchewan town was one of four finalists in the nationwide contest alongside Elliot Lake, Ont., Cochrane, Alta., and Enderby, B.C., for the $250,000 grand prize and the right to host an NHL pre-season game.
The winner was determined by an online vote, where voters could cast their ballots as many times as humanly possible in the 32-hour window, which began at 7 a.m. on March 29 and ended at 3 p.m. on March 30.
Organizers in Wolseley — about 100 kilometres east of Regina — had a “voting war room” set up, where volunteers submitted entries around the clock.
“It was an electrifying environment once voting was done,” said Vance Weber, spokesperson for Wolseley's Kraft Hockeyville bid. “Before voting was done, truly it was a grind.
“We created the most asinine, foolish jokes about proving you're not a robot.”
Once the voting period concluded, supporters headed to a watch party inside the arena, where a Hockey Night in Canada television crew was on hand.
When 5 p.m. on March 30 rolled around, Weber estimates around 500 to 600 people packed inside the Wolseley Sportsplex to watch the official announcement by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman during the first intermission on Hockey Night in Canada's broadcast.
“I would argue that 60 to 70 per cent of the population of Wolseley was in that building,” said Weber. “And there were even a few out-oftowners that we know that showed up.
“The feeling just grew and grew, and it became more and more electric all through that period.”
Then it came time for the official announcement.
However, Saskatchewan's Hockeyville drought continued as it was announced that Elliot Lake had won.
“We deflated for a few seconds,” said Weber. “Everybody was disappointed and there were some hugs and some tears and stuff.
“Nobody booed and I'm very proud of that.
“And then slowly but surely it turned into an applause and a congratulations.”
Despite the result, many who gathered stayed at the rink where food and drinks were being served into the night.
“It turned into a celebration,” said Weber. “Everyone was saying `you know what, we didn't win it, but Wolseley won it.'
“We had so much provincial exposure national exposure and goodwill.”
Weber said he and others marvelled at the work volunteers put in from the first submission through the voting period.
“This community worked hard,” he said. “Everybody would come up and ask how they could help.
“We had a community that was 100 per cent pulling at capacity and it was great to see.”
While Wolseley didn't come away with the grand prize, as a finalist they were still awarded $25,000, which will go toward upgrading the 44-year-old ice plant. The community also receives $10,000 in minor hockey equipment.
Organizers have also set up a Gofundme online fundraiser in the hopes of raising more money for the new ice plant. Weber said there have already been plenty of donations, including some from Elliot Lake.
“People care about the story of Wolseley now,” he said. “And it really feels like Saskatchewan picked us up on their shoulders and I tell you, that support is a beautiful feeling.”
Along with the online fundraiser, Weber said organizers will be applying for grants and reaching out to businesses about donating to the arena in the hopes of getting closer to their goal of $600,000 to $800,000.
The community has already raised $100,000 for the ice plant project.
Weber said the town is also organizing a sports dinner featuring some celebrities to be announced in the coming weeks.
“I can't speak highly enough of Kraft Hockeyville and its greater community engagement and what it's going to allow us to do,” said Weber.
“We got so much cool support from so many different areas.”