Music: {allcanada} Stirling-Rawdon to bring Kraft Hockeyville game to Belleville

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

{allcanada} Stirling-Rawdon to bring Kraft Hockeyville game to Belleville

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Stirling-Rawdon, ON – May 9, 2012 – The Township of Stirling-Rawdon, winners of Kraft Hockeyville 2012, announced today that the 2012-2013 NHL® pre-season game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets will be played in Belleville, Ontario at Yardmen Arena on October 3, 2012. Members of the Stirling-Rawdon Local Organizing Committee made the decision, in collaboration with the Kraft Hockeyville partners, to move the game to Belleville to allow a greater number of people from the community to celebrate the win and enjoy the game live.

As the Kraft Hockeyville 2012 winning community, Stirling-Rawdon won the right to host the NHL pre-season game and will receive $100,000 for arena upgrades from Kraft Canada, $10,000 in food bank donations and a visit from CBC's Hockey Night in Canada.

"Each and every member of our community deserves the opportunity to celebrate this incredible achievement because they all played a role in making Stirling-Rawdon Kraft Hockeyville 2012," said Cindy Brandt, head of the Stirling-Rawdon Local Organizing Committee. "Hosting the game at the Stirling District Recreation Centre would have been a thrill, but one that would have denied far too many people an opportunity to share in the revelry."

"This is a win-win situation for our community. Stirling-Rawdon is getting $100,000 in much needed upgrades to our beloved arena, and by playing the game in Belleville more people can enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience," said Rodney Cooney, mayor of the Township of Stirling-Rawdon. "The members of the committee have made the right decision, one that will give back to those that have demonstrated such passion for the community and for the sport of hockey."

"We are honoured that our neighbours to the North have chosen to make Belleville a part of its Kraft Hockeyville celebrations," said Neil Ellis, Mayor of the City of Belleville. "The opportunity to help bring a 2012-2013 NHL® pre-season game to as many people as possible in such a hockey-passionate community like Stirling-Rawdon is one that we wouldn't dream of passing up. Needless to say, the people of Belleville were firmly behind the Stirling-Rawdon bid."

Members of the Stirling-Rawdon Local Organizing Committee will reveal ticket information at a later date, along with details surrounding the numerous festivities and fan celebrations that will take place in the community of Stirling-Rawdon leading up to the game.

Having just concluded its seventh year, Kraft Hockeyville is a nationwide movement that enables Canadians to showcase their community and the role local arenas play in bringing friends and family together to celebrate our nation's favourite sport - hockey. This year, Stirling-Rawdon's tireless passion, effort and creativity earned it the title of Kraft Hockeyville 2012.

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