Free skate for Hockeyville

Photo: Contributed

Residents of Lumby have their eye on the prize and they are not just asking for votes to become the Kraft Hockeyville 2016, they are screaming for them.

The annual contest will see 10 communities across Canada receive some sort of cash infusion into their local arena. Top prize is $100,000, with the pot going down from there. People are encouraged to post their Lumby hockey and community memories on social media with the hashtag #khv_lumby to support the cause.

With a tax base of under 1,500 people, and not many more from the surrounding areas, organizers said it's hard to keep the Pat Duke Memorial Arena up to par.

The arena, that was built in the 1960s, is showing its age and is in need of some upgrades.

A free Family Day skate will be held at the arena Monday, Feb. 8 to generate interest in the bid to win the contest.

Organizer Angie Clowry said there will be a variety of events, including a Hockeyville cake.

A couple of hockey moms have painted the plexiglass, businesses have posters all over town and windows have been painted.

“We are hoping that families from all around the Okanagan will pop in for the free family skate starting at 10 a.m. and that everyone will bring their jerseys, green and gold colours and their noise makers down for the Hockeyville picture at noon. We are really hoping to fill the arena to capacity,” said Clowry.

“We are hoping to be finalists as we would receive 100,000 in upgrades as well as a pre-season NHL game,” she said.