GANDER, N.L. — The wait is nearly over.
More than two years after being named the winner of Kraft Hockeyville 2020, the central Newfoundland town of Twillingate (with an assist from Gander) will finally get to host their Hockeyville celebrations this coming week.
Twillingate received $250,000 for repairs to the George Hawkins Memorial Arena. The building, which was formerly an airplane hangar in Gander before being moved and converted to an arena, had developed several major issues in the last few years. An aging Zamboni and ice-making plant, along with some structural and mechanical issues, had put the building’s future in doubt prior to the town began — and won — the Hockeyville campaign.
But the work on the building isn't done yet, either.
“That process is taking longer than expected,” said Grant White, the town’s recreation director and a co-chairman of the Hockeyville organizing committee.
“We’ve got some minor repairs done in the engine room, but most of that work is going to happen in 2023. We’ve got some roof replacements, mechanical and electrical repairs all planned to happen in the spring.”
Habs, Sens coming to town
Among the usual festivities included in any town’s Hockeyville celebration is the opportunity to host an NHL pre-season game.
White says the NHL does a thorough assessment of the arenas in the area of a Hockeyville winning town and determines which one is best suited to accommodate a game. In this case, the Steele Community Centre in Gander will host Twillingate’s Hockeyville game on Thursday, Oct. 6 between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators.
Twillingate will host various festivities throughout next week leading up to the game. On Monday, Oct. 3, there’s a silent auction being held at the Twillingate-New World Island Dinner Theatre, a night of entertainment and the chance to walk away with one of nearly 50 items, including signed NHL jerseys, tickets to an NHL game this season, and items donated by local artists and businesses. The proceeds from the auction will be added to the funds that will be used to complete the repairs to the George Hawkins Arena.
“Wednesday is our community celebration day,” Tara Hamlyn, another co-chairperson with the Hockeyville planning committee, said. “We’ve got the Stanley Cup coming to town, which is pretty exciting. So although we couldn’t get to have our game here, we’re gonna have the Cup in the George, and everyone’s really excited to see it.”
The arena will be open from 4 to 7 p.m. for anyone in the province who wishes to come and join the celebrations. White says there will also be a community barbecue and live entertainment in the arena parking lot.
The Stanley Cup will also be making some special visits around the community earlier in the day, but those, Hamlyn says, are a surprise.
On the morning of Oct. 6, kids from Twillingate and the other communities in the region, as well as some kids from the various minor hockey associations throughout central Newfoundland, will be invited to Gander to attend both the Senators’ and Canadiens’ morning skate practices.
“We just thought it’d be a nice way to say thank you for all the support,” said Hamlyn.
'This is a hockey town'
Both White and Hamlyn are grateful to both the sponsors and partners of Kraft Hockeyville, as well as the province, for all of the support throughout the voting process in 2020 and right up to today.
“We’re just so thankful and appreciative for all the support,” said Hamlyn. “This is a hockey town. Every town has their thing, and for us, it’s hockey. Whenever we have games, no matter the age group, the lines are right out the door."
Hamlyn's own children went through minor hockey.
"I spent a lot of time volunteering, and whenever I go into the stadium, it feels like going home," she says. "There’re so many memories there, and now, those memories will be able to live on for years to come.”
It's been worth the wait, White adds.
“Everything has been great,” said White. “All of the partners — from Kraft-Heinz to the NHL and NHL Players' Association — have been excellent with us. The two years waiting to get the chance to host this has extended the partnership, but through that, we’ve been able to make some great friends on a personal level, so it’s been truly wonderful.”
After the game, White, Hamlyn and the other members of the town’s Hockeyville committee will travel to Elsipogtog First Nation, N.B., the 2021 Hockeyville winner, to hand off the Hockeyville Cup to that community on Oct. 7.