Tyne Valley thankful for supporters during Hockeyville competition

TYNE VALLEY, P.E.I. —

Tyne Valley did not win the title of Hockeyville.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced Twillingate, N.L., had won the Kraft Hockeyville Canada 2000 competition Saturday night on Sportsnet.

“It’s been an amazing journey…a huge heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you who supported us through this ride,” a message posted on the Kraft Hockeyville 2020 – Tyne Valley Sports Centre Twitter account said. “As we reflect on the last 7 months, we have felt supported every step of the way. We hope we have made you proud.”

Twillingate will receive $250,000 for upgrades to George Hawkins Memorial Arena, an opportunity to host an NHL pre-season game and $10,000 worth of equipment from NHL Players’ Association’s goals and dreams fund.

Twillingate’s current arena, George Hawkins Memorial Arena, was originally an aircraft hangar in Gander, N.L. The structure was disassembled and reassembled in 1967 to give the community the rink and roof that still stands there today. The facility needs a number of repairs, including fixing their ice chiller, repairing the leaking roof and other general upgrades.Tyne Valley, Saint-Felicien, Que., and Pense, Sask., were the other three finalists. Online voting began on Friday morning and ended Saturday evening.The Tyne Valley and Area Community Sports Centre was destroyed by fired in December.A new facility was announced in July. It is expected to cost about $10 million with the municipal share being about $3.1 million.The Hockeyville competition began in 2006 when Deuville’s Rink in Salmon River, N.S., won the inaugural event. The O’Leary Community Sports Centre were victorious in 2017.

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