Redvers Rec Centre in the running for $250,000 in Hockeyville contest

by Scott Boulton

A southeast town is hoping to get support, as they’ve entered into the Kraft Hockeyville competition.

Redvers is hoping to accrue enough votes to win the competition, which would see $250,000 go towards the Redvers Rec Centre.

Read More:

• Winter melt won’t stop this Regina cross-country ski enthusiast
• Team Kleiter excited to wave Saskatchewan flag at Kelowna Brier
• Trump takes to social media to defend hockey legend Wayne Gretzky

Nadine Pryde, the recreation director for Redvers, said they’re hoping to see some community feedback to help make it happen.

“One of the town counsellors approached me and said, ‘What do you think?’ I thought, ‘You know what? Why not?’ Let’s just try, Saskatchewan has yet to win the big one, and so we are hoping we are in the running for it,” she said.

“We’re just in the rally stage right now, so we just need people to answer the questions and submit stories and photos. We’ve actually seen a lot of action on their Hockeyville website, and it’s pretty exciting to see everybody take part.”

Pryde said an upgrade is needed in Redvers, with some specific changes in mind.

“Like every small-town, rural community, none of our rinks are new and everything costs so much money now. We’re looking at more than one thing, obviously, but we’re looking at we need some new rolled roofing,” Pryde explained.

“Our roofing is at its age limit, and we need some of that, some matting in our dressing rooms that are downstairs, our ice plant will always need some maintenance. There’s tons of things that could happen, but we’re hoping for the rolled roofing for right now, anyways.”

Any upgrades or repairs for the rec centre would go to more than just hockey.

“We are not just a skating rink. We are curling ice, pool and ball diamonds all in one location, so the Redvers Rec Centre is literally the hub or the heart of the community,” Pryde explained.

“Many things happen here in this facility. If we are able to win the big $250,000, it would be priceless because we can’t afford everything all the time. We’re a small-budget, small community, hope-for-the-best kind of centre, and we love it. We do maintain it very well, and it does show that we do enjoy our centre.”

There’s been a lot of excitement for the contest in the community.

“Everybody seems pretty excited about it,” Pryde said.

“Some of the older generation are struggling with just having to do it online, and they’re nervous about that, but really it’s very easy. I’ve had classes. My office is always open. I’m at the centre almost every day, so we’ve helped a lot of people get their stories in, their submissions in, and if you go on to Kraft Hockeyville site, some of the stories and photos are great.”

Pryde encouraged everyone in the community to head to the Kraft Hockeyville site and add their own stories and photos to help give the Redvers Rec Centre a fighting chance.