Pense announced as finalist in 2020 Kraft Hockeyville contest

Saskatchewan will be represented in this year’s Kraft Hockeyville competition.

Pense, about 35 kilometers west of Regina, is one of the four communities across the country eligible to win.

If the town takes home the prize, they will win $250,000 and host an NHL game.

Graeme Crosbie, a member of the Pense Memorial Rink board, led the charge to get the town nominated.

He said the money would be put to good use.

“It’s huge. It’s super exciting. We need to raise quite a bit of money for replacing our pipes and levelling the sand underneath the rink,” he explained.

The funding would make up a major portion of their $300,000 goal.

While hockey is a part of Saskatchewan culture, no community has won this contest in the past.

“That’s a crying shame if you think about it. We’re optimistic that we can get the whole province behind our bid, put us on the map and make us the first Kraft Hockeyville winner from Saskatchewan,” he said.

As for their chances, Crosbie is quite optimistic.

“Not only are we the only finalist from this province, we’re the only finalist from western Canada. We’re going up against three eastern rinks here. If we can get that community (support) not just within Pense and southern Saskatchewan, but the province and even the western half of the country, I would like our chances quite a bit,” he said.

The other nominees are Twilingate, N.L, Saint-Félicien, Q.C and Tyne Valley, P.E.I.

Voting starts on August 14 at 9 a.m.