Members of the WHL Prince Albert Raiders visited with local children in Kinistino as part of last year's Hockey Day in Saskatchewan event that the community hosted. (Submitted photo/Randy Hanson)

By Ben Tompkins

Arena Upgrades Needed

Kinistino trying to become next Kraft Hockeyville

Jan 23, 2025 | 2:00 PM

The town of Kinistino is setting its sights high these next couple of months, in hopes of getting significant arena upgrades.

Kinistino has entered into this year’s Kraft Hockeyville contest which, if they win, would get them $250,000 towards arena upgrades, as well as the opportunity to host an NHL game.

“It’s the beginning stages of nominations, so we’re just trying to get the word out. We need community members and the surrounding areas, friends, family, grandparents and everybody to go on Hockeyville and register, write a little story about Kinistino or the arena and hockey, or post a video or a picture and Kinistino will gain points by everybody doing so,” explained Kinistino Minor Hockey Association President Randy Hanson.

Anyone in Canada is eligible to participate in the Kraft Hockeyville contest, with the finalists being announced at the beginning of March.

Until then, Kinistino just needs as much support as possible to become a finalist, with the top four receiving at least $25,000 towards their arena project.

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“Last year, we hosted Hockey Day in Saskatchewan, solely to raise money for the arena. We raised a good amount, but there’s still a ways to go. Even though Kraft Hockeyville nominations started here a week or so ago, we thought maybe we could jump on board and see what we can do,” Hanson added.

“The biggest part of our plant, because of the age, is in need of replacing. The ice plant control room and ice surface need to be replaced in the next few years and it’s a huge cost to the community and the rink. We need big repairs so we can keep it going for another 40 years for the kids and community to enjoy.”

Like many small towns in Saskatchewan, the rink in Kinistino is at the centre of it all, but fundraising for such a large expense would be difficult for any community with less than 700 people.

“It’s a huge part of the community, it’s the gathering part of the community, especially in the winter months. Friends, family, and the community all gather there, it promotes friendship and family, and it’s just a huge part of the tradition of all the hockey teams and players that have gone through. It’s like any small town in Saskatchewan, the rink is one of the main sources to keep kids and families active, meeting, and being together,” Hanson told northeastNOW.

“The cost of everything these days is a lot, and it’s a big burden on a small town to keep up with just the maintenance costs of a big facility. I’m sure we’re not the only town in the province or in Canada that needs help, but we thought we’d nominate ourselves anyway, and hopefully gather everybody in the community and surrounding areas together to help us out and see what we can do.”

To register the Town of Kinistino, you can visit this link online and share your story, photo, video, and more.

“Hopefully the community and surrounding area will rally around us. People who have moved away and live in other provinces, alumni who maybe played junior or senior hockey here, they can get online and register with Kraft Hockeyville and help Kinistino.”

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