Nominations for this year's Kraft Hockeyville are now open, but each community must enter submissions to officially enter their arena in the contest.
The eventual winner will get $250,000 for arena upgrades and host an NHL pre-season game.
Each community must find its arena in the Hockeyville database and answer three questions about the community, arena, and desired upgrades to be officially nominated. Communities should also share their Arena Rally Page link with friends and family to gather more support.
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent told CK News Today it's ready and willing to help each arena with the submissions and the process if necessary. Chatham-Kent Director of Recreation Rob Pollock told CK News Today all they have to do is reach out.
"We're supportive of anyone who wants to officially submit their arena and we'll work with them through that process," said Pollock.
The Bothwell Arena, Thames Campus Arena in Chatham, and Erickson Arena in Chatham are not yet on the nomination list and must be added by each community if they want to participate in the contest.
The Nomination and Rally phase, in which communities across Canada submit stories explaining why their community should be the next Kraft Hockeyville, closes on March 1.
Written or video nomination stories will account for 80 per cent of the total score for each arena and the remaining 20 per cent will come from each community’s total rally points, such as photos, notes, and emoji reactions to content on each arena’s rally page.
Each submission (limit one per person per arena) is worth 10 points, each photo (limit five per person per arena) is worth three points, each note (limit one per person per arena) is worth one point, and emojis (limit 15 per person per arena) are worth one point each.
Judges will review the nominations, calculate the total scores, and select a winner from every province and territory on March 14.
Each winner will receive $50,000 for arena upgrades, or more, if the community advances to the Top 2.
The judges will announce the Top 2 finalists on March 21 and they will then compete head-to-head in a nationwide vote to determine the Kraft Hockeyville 2026 grand prize winner.
Voting takes place on April 3 and 4 with the winner announced on April 4 after 5 p.m.
Click here for more information and to participate.
