| Last updated at 3:00 PM on 04/03/08 |
Online voters help Port aux Basques win first round of Hockeyville 2008  
The Telegram
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have, through online voting, helped place Port aux Basques in the top five of the Kraft Hockeyville 2008 competition.
Clyde Jackman, Minster of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, today encouraged residents of the province to keep supporting Port aux Basques into the next round, with online voting scheduled to begin on March 29 at http://www.cbc.ca/hockeyville/.
“The Hockeyville 2008 competition searches for the Canadian community that best embodies the spirit of hockey and hometown pride — and Port aux Basques, with its long, enthusiastic hockey history, certainly meets the criteria,” Jackman said. “The $20,000 prize awarded for placement in the top five will no doubt be a boost to the Bruce II Arena, and all those who participate in the recreational activities which take place there.”
Port aux Basques came out ahead of Rothesay, N.B., in a head-to-head online vote to become the Atlantic representative in the competition. The win brings them closer to the grand prize — hosting an NHL exhibition game next September, and $100,000 to be used for upgrading their home arena.
As a part of the competition, Hockey Night in Canada personalities Scott Oake and Kelly Hrudey will broadcast live from Port aux Basques this weekend.
Port aux Basques mayor Brian Button said he is thrilled with the top five placement, but still wants the town to take the top prize.
“The $20,000 prize money is a great award which will certainly be used by the town,” Button said. “There is, however, a lot of excitement building throughout the community and we are setting our sights on the Number 1 spot.”
Kraft Hockeyville 2008 is sponsored by Kraft Canada, together with the CBC, the National Hockey League (NHL), and the NHL Players’ Association.
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