If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video packed with hockey players, figure skaters, and an entire town rallying behind their rink is worth even more. Crossfield has officially entered the Kraft Hockeyville competition, and residents hope their community-driven video will set them apart.
Tayla Grochowich, a Crossfield resident and hockey mom, knows how important this bid is.
"You’ll find quite a few Airdrie residents out on Crossfield ice," she explained. "We have an agreement where they get so many hours a week, so you’ll find lots of Airdrie kids on the ice regularly. An improved arena or upgrades would really benefit both communities."
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For Grochowich, hockey is more than just a game—it’s a family tradition.
"I sure am," she said when asked if she was a hockey mom. "I have a six-year-old in U7, and my daughter, who’s five, just started the CanSkate program at Pete Knight."
The community knew they needed to stand out in the nationwide competition, so they turned to video to showcase their passion for hockey and the spirit of Crossfield.
"We were trying to think of ways to stand out," Grochowich said. "Crossfield has around 4,000 people, and this is a Canada-wide competition. We thought this would be a fun way to involve the community. Kraft Hockeyville is all about bringing people together, so we wanted as many people as possible in it. It actually turned out so much better than we even thought."
She and Jennifer Watson, president of the Crossfield Skating Club, spearheaded the idea and teamed up with Kyle Tremblay from ProRes Productions to bring it to life.
"He took our vision and added his own. It turned out better than we expected, and so many kids came out. It was so fun."
Winning Kraft Hockeyville wouldn’t just be a title—it would mean $250,000 for arena upgrades and the opportunity to host an NHL® pre-season game. That kind of investment would go a long way toward improving Pete Knight Arena, which has long been the heartbeat of Crossfield’s hockey community.
Mayor Kim Harris previously emphasized how much the arena means to the town.
"Our arena is the soul of our community. Time and time again, I’ve seen residents rally together, whether it’s helping neighbours, supporting the food bank, or just gathering to celebrate. I’m confident we’ll come together for this competition."
The need for upgrades is clear. Residents have pointed out ongoing challenges, from dressing room shortages forcing U5 kids to dress on benches in the cold to malfunctioning scoreboards that disrupt games and accessibility issues that make it difficult for fans with mobility challenges to watch from the stands.
When asked what the best part of the experience was, Grochowich didn’t hesitate.
"Just having the community come together. We made a call-out on our little community forum, and so many kids showed up—from U5 to U11, plus figure skaters. Everyone was so willing to take part, and our crazy ideas turned out great. It’s created such a buzz around town, and it’s so fun to include the kids."
Every rink has its stories. When asked about one of the most legendary moments at the Crossfield Arena, Grochowich recalled a recent event that left a lasting impact.
"There are plenty of longtime residents with legendary stories, but recently, something that put us on the map was ‘Pack the Pete Purple’—a charity game hosted by the Renegades. It raised over $15,000 for domestic violence and Kristin’s Place Shelter. The arena was packed, and the community showed up. It was such a meaningful night."
The competition is heating up, and Crossfield is all in. The nomination phase runs until March 2, followed by a judging phase in mid-March. If Crossfield makes the Top 4, voting will take place on April 4-5, when Canadians will decide which town wins the grand prize.
Residents can submit their own stories, photos, and rally points at KraftHockeyville.ca to strengthen Crossfield’s bid. Every submission counts toward the town’s final score.
With their entry submitted and their video gaining traction, Crossfield is ready to take center ice and prove why they deserve the Kraft Hockeyville title.
Visit KraftHockeyville.ca to support Pete Knight Arena.
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