Bruce Greenham was a much younger man when he first set foot on the roof of what would become Twillingate's George Hawkins Arena.
Now 71, he was 17 was among the first group of people who worked on the dismantling of an old airport hangar in Gander, using pickaxes and hammers to remove the pieces of the building's roof, then laying what they could salvage on the ground below.
Groups would work on the hangar for two to three weeks at a time. A cook was hired and cots were set up inside the hangar, where volunteer workers would stay for as long as their particular group was working on site.
“We stayed right there taking it apart,” he said. “It is a story to be told, that's for sure.”
The sections of that hangar were later moved by rail and water to Twillingate, where they were reassembled to serve as the community's stadium.
In 1968, what was dubbed George Hawkins Arena was opened on the site where an outdoor rink had been.
Now, that arena is at the centre of a national competition that could extend that facility's more-than-half-century history.
Last week, Twillingate was announced as one of four finalists for Kraft Hockeyviille, the annual voter-driven contest that will net the winner $250,000 in arena upgrades and the right to act as host for an NHL exhibition game.
By being a finalist, the town has already gained $25,000.
If it wins, Twillingate has its eyes on some improvements to "The George." as the arena is affectionately known. There is a leaky roof that needs attention, while the rink’s ice plant and ice resurfacer are both getting older and need replacing.
The town would also like to make the rink more accessible for seniors in the community.
Voting for Kraft Hockeyville is scheduled to being online Friday, with the winner announced Saturday night.
Twillingate, NL is one of the Top 4 hoping to be crowned #KraftHockeyville!
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 3, 2020
Their arena was originally an aircraft hangar in Gander that was reassembled to give the community the rink and roof that still stands today!
Get ready to vote on August 14th at 9am ET. @hockeyville pic.twitter.com/9mHZLGe8Xa
Pense, Sask.; Saint-Félicien, Qué.; and Tyne Valley, P.E.I. are the other finalists.
“The (arena) means everything to us,” said Twillingate-New World Island Minor Hockey Association president Tammy Dove. “It is a lifeblood for the area.
“It would be great to win the competition."
Around 125 athletes from the 25 communities scattered across the region suit up with the minor hockey Combines.
The contest might be called Hockeyville, but the Combines aren’t the only local amateur sports organization that will benefit from the possible refurbishment of the arena.
The 40-year-old Island Blades Figure Skating Club, with about 60 to 70 athletes, also skate out of the stadium. As well, many of the town’s hockey players get their first skating experience through the club's CanSkate program.
“I’ve been a part of Island Blades for 30 years, as a skater and a coach and now a parent. This arena holds so much more meaning to me than just hockey,” said club coach Sarah Guy, whose father was a welder and one of the locals who helped put the arena back together upon its arrival in Twillingate.
“It’s our hockey rink, figure skating rink, curling rink, ball hockey (surface), Fish, Fun and Folk Festival venue and wedding reception venue.
“And to lose a piece of history would be unfortunate.“
The building also serves as a meeting place. Whether it is a senior hockey, minor hockey game or the figure skating club’s annual ice show, the rink is always full of people.
During the winter, if you can’t find someone out about town, try The George — you’ll probably find them there.
“It is a gathering place,” said Dove.
Greenham didn't have a hand in rebuilding the George Hawkins Arena. He was away at trade school at the time, but says if he had been in town, he would have been there to help piece it back together to become the centrepiece facility it has been for over 50 years.
“Not in your wildest dreams did you think that old building would be still standing,” said Greenham.
To vote, go to the official Kraft Hockeyville site. Voting begins at 10:30 a.m. (NT) and Friday and concludes 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
To see more about Twillingate's bid, go online here.
Nicholas Mercer is a local journalism initiative reporter covering central Newfoundland for SaltWire Network.