Tumbler Ridge arena named as top two finalist for Kraft Hockeyville $250,000 prize

TUMBLER RIDGE, B.C. — The Tumbler Ridge Community Centre arena has been named a finalist for Kraft Hockeyville 2026.

Hockeyville, organized by the NHL, the NHL Players’ Association and Kraft Heinz, is an annual online contest where users can vote for their favourite community hockey venue across Canada.

Winners will receive $250,000 toward facility upgrades and the chance to host an NHL pre-season game, while the runner-up will receive $100,000.

For its 20th anniversary, the competition featured provincial and territorial winners, which were announced on Saturday, March 14th.

Those who prevailed received $50,000 toward upgrades, which are separate from the grand prize. Tumbler Ridge won the provincial designation for British Columbia. 

A late entry, Tumbler Ridge Community Centre gained a surge of support following themass shooting that left nine people, including the assailant, dead on February 10th.

One voter described the arena as “the heartbeat of the community currently navigating through its darkest chapter.”

The finalists for Kraft Hockeyville were announced on Saturday, March 21st in a release on the NHL’s website.

The Tumbler Ridge Community Centre arena will be up against the Taber Community Centre in Taber, Alberta.

 Fort St. John’s North Peace Arena was also in the running, but was eliminated from the contest.

Online voting for the final two contestants will begin on Friday, April 3rd starting at 9 a.m. eastern (6 a.m. Pacific) time and concluding on Saturday, April 4th at 5 p.m. eastern (2 p.m. Pacific) 

The winner will be announced on Saturday, April 4th. For further details and to vote, visit Hockeyville’s website.