Hazelton's Hockeyville Bid Falls Short

Hazelton's Hockeyville 2010 bid is over.

The community lost out to Cranbrook and Yellowknife in the "Western Canada" competition, as the CBC announced its Top 12 semi-finalists for this year's contest last night.

Hazelton supporters had submitted three more stories to the Kraft Hockeyville 2010 website than Cranbrook -- but Cranbrook had more images.

But "Hazelton is Hockeyville" Committee spokesperson Kirsten Barnes says the campaign really brought the community together.
"That was the absolute best thing that could come out of whole Hockeyville bid this year was the way it brought our people together," said Barnes.  She adds "every community surrounding old Hazelton came together, and our ice arena was filled to the rafters for every event that we held and every hockey game, and now you see kids out in the streets playing hockey all the time as well, so I think it's catchin on."

And the committee vows to try again in 2011.

Terrace is the reigning Hockeyville champion.

    John Crawford
    reported by Steve Pereira