Wolseley’s cracked the final four for Kraft Hockeyville 2024. 

The annual contest awards one Canadian community $250,000 for skating rink upgrades, along with the chance to host a pre-season NHL game. 

Mayor Gerald Hill of Wolseley said they’re excited about the opportunity. “Our local arena is what brings us together – as fans, friends, family, and ultimately as a community.” 

He said the funds would come in handy for upgrading their rink. “We need a new ice plant. We’re on year 44 of a 25-year designed plan. We’ve been babying this thing along, and that’s how we’re still doing hockey in Wolseley.” 

Hill added that they have several teams that use the rink, including a Junior C team, U7s, U9s, and U13s. “Essentially, all age groups use it. This year has been exceptionally busy at the rink. We’ve hosted several hockey tournaments.” 

Regardless of whether they win, they’re undertaking a net zero study for greenhouse emissions for the ice plant. “Whatever plant we end up putting in there is going to be part of the most efficient and cost-effective system that we can put in there.” 

Hill hopes that all of Saskatchewan will back their 850-person community. “We’re competing with such communities as Cochrane – they're 35,000-plus.” 

“All of Saskatchewan, even Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut – anyone that wants to see this come to a small town, we need your help with that, so please vote.” 

Wolseley is up against Elliot Lake, ON, Cochrane, AB, and Enderby, BC. 

Voting starts on March 29 at 9 a.m. ET and runs through March 30 at 5 p.m. ET, and whoever has the most votes will win the grand prize. You can find the Kraft Hockeyville page here.