Big-league hockey is hitting the ice in St. Thomas to help celebrate a big contest win for a nearby community whose arena is too small to handle the event.
West Lorne, in Elgin County, was crowned a 2023 winner of Kraft Hockeyville in April, which entitles it to $250,000 in arena upgrades. The National Hockey League Players’ Association’s Goals & Dreams fund also donated $10,000 worth of youth hockey equipment, and the municipality of West Elgin provided an additional $150,000.
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But when the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Buffalo Sabers tangle in an exhibition game Wednesday, a part of the celebration, the action will unfold not in West Lorne but at the Joe Thornton Community Center in St. Thomas.
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According to the NHL, the decision to hold the game away from West Lorne, a community of about 1,300, was made for logistical reasons.
The 55-year-old West Elgin Arena can only seat 377 people, while the Joe Thornton Arena can seat 2,200 and has standing room for another 300.
Wednesday’s event begins at 6:30 p.m.
The NHL says the West Lorne arena upgrades will include a new front entrance with more accessible doors, new dressing rooms to handle more players and an expanded warm room for spectators.
On Tuesday, the West Elgin Arena will also host NHL alumni Rob Ray of the Sabers and Darcy Tucker of the Leafs at a community celebration event in the parking lot from 4 pm to 7 pm
West Lorne, 45 minutes southwest of London, beat out Maple Ridge, BC, St. Anne, Man., and Saint-Anselme, Que. for the Hockeyville title this year. Over 17 years, Kraft Hockeyville has awarded more than $4.5 million to 93 communities across Canada.
The tickets appear to have been doled out in a lottery system, with each name drawn getting a pair. On a social media post announcing the winners last week, there was much elation.
“Thank you to everyone involved in making this happen,” one woman wrote in reply. “I’m so excited to be going to this game.”
Added another woman: “Congratulations to everyone. We’re all winners whether we get to go to the game or not.”
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