Mayor is all in as Cochrane makes final push to win Kraft Hockeyville

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The town of Cochrane is calling on Albertans’ sporting spirit to help bring home the title of Kraft Hockeyville’s 2024 grand prize winner.

Cochrane is facing off against three other finalists — Wolseley, Sask., Elliot Lake, Ont. and Enderby, B.C. — for the shot at $250,000 in skating rink upgrades and the opportunity to host a pre-season NHL game.

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Amid the growing anticipation for decision day, the town made a final push for votes with a community rally Thursday evening at the Cochrane Arena.

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The celebration featured a mascot dance-off, poster making, glitter tattoos, skating, and a Yelnats Cup Tournament U18 hockey game between the Calgary Raiders and the Edmonton KC 707.

Cochrane Mayor Jeff Genung said the town is honoured to be one of the top four finalists across the nation in the competition, especially in light of a special milestone for the Cochrane Arena, or “the old barn,” as it is affectionately known.

“Hockey is a huge part of our community, and to be able to celebrate the arena’s 50th birthday this year with some upgrades. That’s why we want to win.”

According to the town’s website, as of 2023, Cochrane boasts a population of about 35,800 residents.

Voting begins Friday at 7 a.m. and ends Saturday at 3 p.m., with the winning community announced Saturday during Hockey Night in Canada.

“Cochrane is super excited to be in the running; we’ve got a rally happening this afternoon, and we’re really trying to encourage all of Alberta to be behind Cochrane and bring the cup back to our province.”

The province last won Kraft Hockeyville in 2014, when the town of Sylvan Lake claimed the prize.

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“It’s been such a great, positive campaign to rally around. It’s been so awesome to see businesses — signs in their store windows — and kids making signs to support their teammates,” Genung said.

He added that for the past 10 days, since the town found out they were considered fierce competition, promoters have been working tirelessly to spread the message to vote.

“We’ve been blasting social media everywhere; we’ve been on the local radio station here — everybody’s kind of doing their part.

“I’m on the mid-size city mayor’s caucus — there’s 25 communities across Alberta — and I’ve been telling all the mayors to get involved in their community to get them to vote for us,” Genung said.

“There’s no losers; it’s just been a great experience, and I wish the other communities well, but obviously we’re going for the win,” Genung said.

‘Something as neat as hockey is our shared passion’

CEO Erin Wagner of SLS Recreation Park Society lauds Cochrane as Canada’s top hockey community.

“We’ve got over 6,500 athletes skating on our ice every week, and with a population of almost 40,000, the demand on our ice is unmatched,” she said.

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Wagner added that while the town entered Hockeyville 2024 with the goal of winning, it nonetheless wishes all the other communities success.

“This is a feel-good story, and at a time like this worldwide where it’s so easy to find differences and tear each other down, this is really about being able to come together around a common cause and put Cochrane on the national stage — how cool is that? Something as neat as hockey is our shared passion.”

The three finalists will receive $25,000 for arena upgrades each, and all four finalists will receive $10,000 in new hockey equipment for youth in the community.

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