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When the Premier starts stumping for your town, you know it’s game on. Premier Danielle Smith is urging Albertans to help Crossfield bring home the Kraft Hockeyville 2025 crown — and $250,000 in arena upgrades.
"Our very own Crossfield has been nominated for Kraft Hockeyville 2025," Smith wrote Friday on social media. "This is the first time in years that a western community has been in the running. Winning the Kraft Hockeyville grand prize of $250,000 means the community can upgrade their Pete Knight Arena to make hockey more accessible to everyone in the region."
"Hockey’s home is in Alberta — let’s prove it," she added.
Voting began this morning at 7:00 a.m. MT and will remain open until 3:00 p.m. MT on Saturday, April 5. Crossfield is one of four national finalists vying for $250,000 in arena upgrades and the chance to host an NHL® preseason game at Pete Knight Arena. The competition includes Honeywood, Ont, Saint-Boniface, Que., and Lower Sackville, N.S.
How to Vote
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Visit www.krafthockeyville.ca
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Sign up or register
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Start voting now
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Vote as many times as you want
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Share the campaign and rally others to do the same
Unlike traditional voting processes, Kraft Hockeyville allows for unlimited voting, meaning supporters can cast their votes as many times as possible to help Crossfield secure the win.
A Chance to Make History
According to Hockey Alberta, "If successful, Crossfield would become only the second Alberta community to win the competition. The last and only Alberta winner was Sylvan Lake in 2014, which used the prize money to build a new arena and hosted a pre-season game between the Arizona Coyotes and Calgary Flames."
Rallying the Region
Support for Crossfield has extended far beyond town limits. Municipal pages from Airdrie to Carstairs, Didsbury and Cochrane have posted messages urging their residents to vote and help bring the Kraft Hockeyville title to the region.
Rallying the Town
Mayor Kim Harris is urging the community to vote early—and often.
"If you haven’t registered to vote already, go on Kraft Hockeyville, register to vote. It takes two minutes. That’s all," she said Friday.
Friday is "Hockeyville Day" in local schools, with students wearing jerseys and Crossfield’s Kraft Hockeyville red-and-blue colours. At 6:00 p.m., a rally will be held at Pete Knight Arena, followed by a PJ-and-pickleball-themed overnight voting party at the curling club.
"8 p.m. to late—there’s drinks, game snacks… you can vote with people, have a drink, have some fun, and maybe do some of their dart and pickleball activities," she said.
Saturday features a 1:00 p.m. mega rally, face painting, balloon artists, live music, and Smokies from Carmen’s Big Way—all leading up to the final announcement.
"5 p.m.—it’s a game on the projector, live announcement during one of the NHL hockey games," Harris said. "So come on down to the Pete Knight Arena. We’re all going to be there listening for the vote and watching the NHL game."
Voices from the Arena
Matt Chomistek, president of the Crossfield Minor Hockey Association (CMHA), says the Pete Knight Arena is “the hub of our little town.”
"Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night games are often packed houses as everyone comes to cheer on our teams and even come and cheer on teams from our neighboring towns," Chomistek said. "Whether your parents were Icehawks, or you’re the first one, the Pete Knight Arena becomes your home away from home for the hockey season."
Lisa Grant, CMHA communications lead, said Hockeyville has shown just how tightly the community rallies around its players.
"Our volunteer-run program is built on countless hours of dedication," she said. "Hockeyville’s support means the world to us, helping to strengthen our home arena and ensuring that future generations of players continue to have a place to grow, compete, and thrive in the sport they love."
For Brianna Rowe, CMHA’s ice scheduler, it’s also about building a rink that works for everyone.
"To my family that uses the arena six days a week, Hockeyville means ensuring their aging grandparents can continue to watch them play the sport they love most for years to come," she said. "It’s the talk of the town."
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