Kraft Hockeyville 2010 begins November 2, 2009, new format increases chance to win
TORONTO, ON (October 29, 2009) – Canada’s bond with hockey runs deep. The local arena is the heart and soul of Canadian communities and Kraft Canada, CBC, The National Hockey League® (NHL) and The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) are proud to announce that the Kraft Hockeyville 2010 competition will launch on November 2, 2009.
The Kraft Hockeyville competition gives communities across Canada the opportunity to experience the excitement of an NHL® game first-hand from their local arena. The winner will host a 2010/11 NHL® pre-season game and win $100,000 in arena upgrades courtesy of Kraft Canada. Four runner-up communities will receive $25,000 each for arena upgrades from Kraft Canada.
“I’ve visited many of the winning communities and it’s amazing to see how the Kraft Hockeyville competition builds community spirit and pride,” said Dino Bianco, President, Kraft Canada. “We encourage all Canadians to join the fun this year and submit an application, this could be your chance to do something special for the community where you live.”
Beginning November 2, 2009 communities can enter the Kraft Hockeyville 2010 competition by logging on to CBCSports.ca/hockeyville and nominating their community. Communities must complete a simple application form and submit a short essay (up to 500 words) with up to three supporting photos (at least one photo must be submitted to qualify) that depicts their hometown pride and passion for the game.
A change has been made to the Kraft Hockeyville competition. This year, there are two additional wild card opportunities (four in total). Each of the four regions (Atlantic, Québec, Ontario, West) will have their own wild card increasing the likelihood of your community’s chance to win. The judges will select a total of 12 submissions from all the entries (up from 10 last year). Canadians will vote for their top five submissions from the list of twelve.
The Kraft Hockeyville team will be keeping fans up-to-date throughout the competition. To view videos and receive insider updates, fans should join the Kraft Hockeyville Facebook Fan page, check out coverage and highlights on NHL.com and follow @hockeyville on Twitter.
Participants have until Monday, January 18, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. ET to submit their application. The top 12 communities chosen to compete for the Kraft Hockeyville 2010 title will be revealed on the Kraft Hockeyville 2010 show on CBC on Monday, March 15, 2010. On Saturday, March 20, 2010 there will be a recap on CBC’s HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA, and a reminder to vote on the top 12. Voting will close on March 21, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Once the votes have been tallied, the top five communities will be announced on CBC’s HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA March 27, 2010.
“We’re pleased to once again invite Canadians to enter their communities and compete for the title of Kraft Hockeyville,” said Scott Moore, Executive Director, CBC Sports and General Manager, CBC Media Sales and Marketing. “Each year through this innovative and unique competition, the passion, spirit and pride Canadians share for hockey and for their communities truly comes alive. We’ve seen some amazing submissions in the past and we’re looking forward to what’s in store for this year.”
“The NHL, in partnership with Kraft, CBC, and the NHLPA, is excited to help celebrate the fifth installment of Kraft Hockeyville,” said John Collins, the NHL’s Chief Operating Officer. “Past years have continued to showcase the great passion that Canadians have for the game of hockey and we look forward to this year’s competition being the best yet.”
"We are very pleased to partner once again with Kraft, CBC and the NHL for Kraft Hockeyville 2010," said Ian Penny, NHLPA Interim Executive Director. "Our members have had great experiences in each of the last four years, travelling to different communities across Canada which would otherwise not have the opportunity to host an NHL game and interact with NHL players. We encourage communities to submit their application in order to bring some of your favourite NHL players to your local rink next fall.”
On Saturday, April 3, 2010 the Kraft Hockeyville team and CBC’s HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA crew will visit and broadcast live from each of the five communities. The Kraft Hockeyville 2010 winner will be announced live that evening on CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA. The winning community will join previous champs Terrace, BC (2009); Roberval, QC (2008); North Bay, ON (2007); and Salmon River, NS (2006).
Kraft Hockeyville 2010 partners include Kraft Canada, The National Hockey League (NHL), CBC, and The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA).
For more information on Kraft Hockeyville 2010 and to receive updates and information on how to enter your community, visit CBCSports.ca/hockeyville.
NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League © NHL 2009. All Rights Reserved.
©NHLPA. NHLPA, National Hockey League Players' Association and the NHLPA logo are trademarks of the NHLPA and are used under license.
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Contacts:
Alanna Banks
Direct: 416-342-1801
alanna.banks@mediaprofile.com
For media in British Columbia and Alberta call
Rachel Thexton
604-609-6153
Rachel.thexton@mediaprofile.com
About CBC Sports
CBC Sports is home to CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada, a national institution since 1952 and the most popular weekly sports program in Canada averaging more than a million viewers every Saturday night. Providing Canadians with unparalleled coverage of both amateur and professional sports, CBC Sports is also home to comprehensive FIFA coverage including the 2010 World Cup; Championship Figure Skating; President’s Choice Toronto Raptors Basketball; Major League Soccer; Championship Curling; Championship Show Jumping from Spruce Meadows; Rogers Cup Tennis; CBC Sports Weekend and more. For more information, visit CBCSports.ca
About the NHL
The National Hockey League, founded in 1917, is the second-oldest of the four major professional team sports leagues in North America. Today, the NHL consists of 30 Member Clubs, each reflecting the League’s international makeup, with players from more than 20 countries represented on team rosters. According to a Simmons Market Research study, NHL fans are younger, more educated, more affluent, and access content through digital means more than any other sport. The NHL entertains more than 100 million fans each season in-arena and through its partners in national television (VERSUS, NBC, TSN, CBC, RDS, RIS, ESPN America, ASN and NHL Network™) and radio (NHL Radio™, Sirius XM Radio and XM Canada). Through the NHL Foundation, the League’s charitable arm, the NHL raises money and awareness for Hockey Fights Cancer™ and NHL Youth Development, and supports the charitable efforts of NHL players. For more information on the NHL, log on to NHL.com.
About the NHLPA
The National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA), established in 1967, is a labour organization whose members are the players in the National Hockey League (NHL). The NHLPA works on behalf of the players in varied disciplines such as labour relations, product licensing, marketing, international hockey and community relations, all in furtherance of its efforts to promote its members and the game of hockey. In 1999, the NHLPA launched the Goals & Dreams fund as a way for the players to give something back to the game they love. The players’ program has donated full sets of hockey equipment to more than 13,000 economically disadvantaged children in 22 countries and assisted with upgrades and the building of hundreds of arenas world-wide. To date, Goals & Dreams has donated more than $17-million to grassroots hockey programs around the world making it the largest program of its kind. For more information on the NHLPA, please visit nhlpa.com.
About Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods (http://www.kraftfoodscompany.com) makes today delicious in 150 countries around the globe. Our 100,000 Kraft employees work tirelessly to make delicious foods consumers can feel good about. From American brand icons like Kraft cheeses, dinners and dressings, Maxwell House coffees and Oscar Mayer meats, to global powerhouse brands like Oreo and LU biscuits, Philadelphia cream cheeses, Jacobs and Carte Noire coffees, Tang powdered beverages and Milka, Cote d'Or, Lacta and Toblerone chocolates, our brands deliver millions of smiles every day. Kraft Foods Inc. (NYSE: KFT) is the world’s second largest food company with annual revenues of $42 billion. The company is a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Standard & Poor's 500, the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and Ethibel Sustainability Index. In Canada, company brands include Kraft Dinner macaroni and cheese, Christie cookies and crackers, and Delissio pizza.
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KRAFT HOCKEYVILLE 2010: BROADCAST SCHEDULE
Saturday, March 6
Salmon River/North Bay featured on CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA
Saturday, March 13
Roberval/Terrace featured on CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA
Monday, March 15
KRAFT HOCKEYVILLE 2010 ON CBC: Top 12 communities revealed
Saturday, March 20
Re-cap top 12 communities on CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA and final call to vote for your favourite community to make the top five.
Saturday, March 27
CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA: Top five communities revealed
Saturday, April 3
CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA: Kraft Hockeyville 2010 winner
revealed