Elliot Lake hopes contest will help with arena repairs

The City of Elliot Lake has been without its arena all winter after structural problems closed it last September.

Now the community is rallying support to help win a national contest with a cash prize that could help pay for repairs.

As things stand, orange fencing has surrounded Centennial Arena all hockey season. The closure means athletes must be bused to an arena 45 minutes away for games and practices.

“Guys are tired right before, like even before they get on the ice just because of the long drive, said Nate Dugwell, Elliot Lake Junior ‘A’ Vikings.

“Getting home late, having to eat and then by that time it’s already bedtime, so not much time to do stuff.”

It’s a lot for those…especially the Timbits, they’re under seven,” said Amanda McKay, of Elliot Lake Minor Hockey.

The City of Elliot Lake has been without its arena all winter after structural problems closed it last September. Now the community is rallying support to help win a national contest with a cash prize that could help pay for repairs. (Photo from video)

“So travelling for practice -- and practice usually starts around 6 -- so they’re up past their bedtime now. Whereas if they’re home, they can get off the ice, go home and get ready for bed.”

The community is rallying online to try to win the 2024 Kraft Hockeyville competition, with a prize of $250,000 for arena upgrades.

Steffani Brown, a billet mom, and her friend started the efforts last month.

Want their arena back

“We started it in the community and we’ve just been blasting it, ‘cause we just would like an arena back for our boys,” Brown said.

“We both billet, we’re both billet moms, we both love it, and we both want a season that’s normal.”

Communities can earn rally points for adding photos or notes to their arena page, and for each ‘like’ on those posts. Four communities will be shortlisted next month before a new round of voting begins.

“We will get our arena fixed and hopefully with the help of Hockey Kraftville we could even do a little bit extra over and above,” said Coun. Charles Flintoff.

“It has been a struggle, but we’re a tight community and we are getting through it.”

“We have the best fans in the NO-J by far,” added Vikings player Jake Norman.

“I mean they’re always loud at the games. They like to cheer, but it would be nice to have lots of fans from Elliot Lake at an Elliot Lake arena.”

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A city official said $250,000 wouldn’t be enough for all the repairs needed at the arena, but it would help.

The winner will be announced at the end of March.