Lumby eyes Hockeyville title

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Feb 15, 2015 at 1:00 AM
Lumby residents hope to get off the bench and enter the big game. The Lumby Minor Hockey Association will know March 14 if its bid for Kraft Hockeyville has been accepted and if voting for upgrades to Pat Duke Memorial Arena will proceed. “We are just waiting to hear,” said Sherry Kineshanko, with the LMHA executive. “Some communities have lots of nominations and others are right across the map.” LMHA submitted about 26 Nominations. “The support from the community has been incredible so far,” said Kineshanko. Kraft Hockeyville 2015, in partnership with the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players’ Association, invited communities across Canada to show their love for the game. The community that wins the grand prize will host an NHL pre-season game and receive $100,000 for arena upgrades. There is also $100,000 in arena upgrades for the second place community, and $25,000 for each of the remaining eight prize winners. The goal is to have Lumby place in the top 10 March 14. “We have our fingers crossed,” said Kineshanko. If that occurs, then residents throughout the North Okanagan will be galvanized to vote for Pat Duke Arena online in an attempt to win the grand prize. “I know our community rallies together,” said Kineshanko. Any winnings will go towards much-needed upgrades at Pat Duke Arena, including heating units in the bleacher area, a referee room and equipment storage. However, the most pressing issue is change rooms, and particularly for female players. “The area is eight-feet-by-four-feet and at times, it can have girls from four different teams in it at the same time,” said Kineshanko. “Because it was an old closet, the door is also just a door that opens up to the arena ice and spectators, so girls coming in at times are not always aware of privacy issues. The girls are just as important as the boys on their team and should be given all of the same opportunities on and off the ice, including an area to get dressed proudly in their Lumby Stars jerseys.” Kineshanko points out that Lumby has a small tax base and the Hockeyville title would provide a major boost to the community. “It is the little communities that really need your support and help as it is the small communities that have to work twice as hard to keep hockey going in their community,” she wrote in her nomination letter. The LMHA’s campaign has the full support of Mayor Kevin Acton. “The people with Lumby Minor have energy that’s non-stop. It’s fantastic,” he said, adding that he is confident residents will embrace the Hockeyville bid if the arena moves on to the next stage of the competition. “It motivates a community and brings a town to its peak for participation.”