TYNE VALLEY, P.E.I. — One way or another on Saturday night, supporters of the Tyne Valley and Area Community Sports Centre’s rebuilding efforts will have a party.
It’s billed as a “watch party” for the Kraft Hockeyville Top 4 announcement that will be televised at 7:30 p.m.
Everyone in attendance is hoping to hear that Tyne Valley will be moving into the final round of the nationwide contest for a chance at winning $250,000, an NHL pre-season game and the Kraft Hockeyville title.
“Obviously, there is a goal there of trying to make it into the Top 4,” said Adam MacLennan, chairman of the local Hockeyville committee.
The watch party is being held at the Tyne Valley Fire Hall, across the road from where the community’s sports centre had stood until Dec. 29, when it was destroyed by fire.
The party gets going at 6 p.m. with musical entertainment throughout the evening by D’arcy Ellis.
“The message to people is, ‘Get there earlier. The fire hall is only so big. We’re expecting a large crowd’,” MacLennan advised.
He knows other communities that are in the running for the Hockeyville title are also having watch parties. Like Tyne Valley, they have no guarantees of getting through to the final round.
In Tyne Valley’s case, MacLennan said the party doubles as a celebration acknowledging the support the community has received since the devastating fire, of all the work that has gone into the Hockeyville campaign, and of all the fundraising initiatives aimed at building a new rink.
The $250,000 prize is a far cry from what would be needed to build a new arena, but MacLennan has said the Hockeyville campaign itself has been a good kick-starter for the fundraising campaign.
Rachel Noye is co-chairing the rink fundraising committee with MacLennan. She said she’s been moved by the support the community has been receiving since the fire.
“It’s pretty overwhelming to see the support in all shapes, sizes, ages and regions,” she said.
She noted young people in the community are among the ones most affected by the fire. Area rinks have been great to provide ice times so Tyne Valley’s minor hockey and figure skating programs could continue. Youth have also been major supporters of the Rally for the Valley campaign and many teams and associations have donated 50/50 proceeds to the rink fund. She’s thrilled the watch party is open to all ages. Adult accompaniment, however, is required.
The bowling lanes will be open during the party and the fire hall will have food and drink specials for the occasion.
Of the 15,743 entries Kraft Hockeyville received coast-to-coast, MacLennan said 3,057 were in support of Tyne Valley’s bid to be Hockeyville.
The entries themselves only account for 20 per cent of the overall score. Judges’ evaluation of each community’s nomination story makes up the other 80 per cent.
Noye thinks Tyne Valley has a good story and she‘s hoping the judges think so too.
“There are people across the country who say our story resonates with them, and they know what they would feel like if they lost their rink and what it would mean for their family and their community.”
