Spencerville – The Spencerville Arena is vying for Kraft Hockeyville 2026, and according to the ad-hoc Hockeyville committee, the 55-year-old arena has been more than a rink for families across Eastern Ontario.
The arena, built by community volunteers, remains a place where children learn to skate, teams grow together, and neighbours gather. It’s a cornerstone of rural life in Edwardsburgh Cardinal, according to the committee.
The reason they are competing for Kraft Hockeyville 2026 is that, after more than five decades of use, the Spencerville Arena needs modernization to be accessible, energy-efficient, and long-term sustainable, including a new compressor, updated accessible washrooms, and new change rooms. The funding is expected to help make this gathering place more than a rink for generations to come.
The organizing committee is hosting an official Kraft Hockeyville 2026 launch event on Saturday, January 10, at the Spencerville Arena from 8 to 4 p.m. The event will mark the kickoff of local rally efforts and invite residents, hockey families, and community organizations to get involved by sharing stories and participating in Hockeyville rally activities.
As part of the launch, Giant Tiger has generously donated 400 boxes of Kraft Dinner in support of the campaign, with donations directed to the local food bank. At the January 10 event, one box of Kraft Dinner will be donated to the food bank for every submission made to Kraft Hockeyville, turning community participation into direct community support.
Edwardsburgh-Cardinal Township will begin advertising the launch publicly next week through social media and their website at www.twpec.ca/hockeyville once final event details are confirmed.
They encourage everyone, individuals and organizations, to submit stories, photos, videos and comments supporting the Spencerville Arena at http://www.krafthockeyville.ca
Your story must answer these three questions:
1 – Tell us about your community’s spirit and its passion for hockey.
2 – Why is the Spencerville Arena important to you, your family and your community?
3 – How would you use the $250,000 to upgrade and improve the arena?
The competition begins with the Nomination & Rally phase, during which communities across Canada submit stories explaining why their community should be the next Kraft Hockeyville.
Judges will review the nominations, calculate the total scores, and select a winner from every province and territory. Each winner will receive $50,000 for arena upgrades, with additional funding available if the community advances to the Top 2.
- 80% of your community score is based on the content of your story submission; 20% is from Rally points earned during the nomination and rally phase.
The judges will announce the Top 2 finalists selected from the Provincial and Territorial winners, who will then compete head-to-head in a nationwide vote to determine the Kraft Hockeyville 2026 grand prize winner.
The grand prize winner will receive $250,000 in arena upgrades and an NHL® preseason game hosted in the winning arena or nearby facility. The runner-up community will receive $100,000 in arena upgrades.
Kraft Hockeyville is a national competition that celebrates the spirit of hockey in communities across Canada. Each year, communities nominate a local arena that plays a vital role in bringing people together, supporting youth sports, and strengthening local identity.
2026 marks 20 years of Kraft Hockeyville. Over the past two decades, the program has helped improve arenas across the country, particularly in small towns and rural communities where rinks are central gathering places.
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