Party, Lumby style

Photo: Kate Bouey - Castanet File Photo

The crowd reacts as Lumby is named Kraft Hockeyville.

Lumby is getting ready to host the hockey world, or at least a small slice of it, this weekend.

The small North Okanagan community will host Hockeyville activities all weekend, culminating with an NHL pre-season game between the Edmonton Oilers and LA Kings at Kal Tire Place in Vernon on Sunday. 

While Lumby won the title of Hockeyville in a nationwide contest in April, and the right to host an NHL game, the aging Pat Duke Memorial Arena was deemed to be ill-equipped to deal with NHL players, broadcasters and fans.

The town did win $100,000 to go toward renovations to the arena.

Hockeyville festivities themselves will take place around Lumby beginning Friday night with a fundraiser for arena improvements at the Blue Ox from 4 p.m. until closing.

Events Saturday kick off with a pancake breakfast at the OAP Hall.

From there, the focus shifts to the arena, where NHL alumni will host youth hockey clinics from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. An officials clinic will follow from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Outside, the Stanley Cup will make an appearance from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.

A community celebration will also take place at the park outside the arena with live music, barbecue and activities for the kids.

The day concludes with a question and answer with members of the Kings from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the White Valley Community Hall.

A family skate is scheduled for Sunday from 12:30 until 2 p.m. featuring a few of the Oilers not scheduled to play that evening.

The game itself, which is already sold out, begins at 6 p.m.

Rosters for the game will be made available later in the week.