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Sylvan Lake in final four of Kraft Hockeyville contest

And then there were four.

And then there were four.

Sylvan Lakers gathered at H.J. Cody School Saturday for free food and the Calgary Flames game broadcast on a screen. Eagerly, they awaited the second period intermission announcement if they would get a little help building a new rink.

When the announcement came through that Sylvan Lake had made into the final four of the Kraft Hockeyville contest, town councillor Graham Parsons and many others rejoiced at the fact their town had made it through to the final four, and now has $50,000 towards the project. If they make it to the final they get $100,000 towards the project.

“We knew we had a good shot at it just because of the awareness of it,” said Parsons. “Wherever we’ve been people have been talking about it and how much they have voted.”

The roof of the Sylvan Lake Arena collapsed in January, leaving a hole in the community. They have rallied around the bid to help them build a new rink.

Parsons said he’s heard from people who have voted thousands of times, including a family that claims to have voted 16,000 times combined.

The councillor and president of the Sylvan Lake Hockey Camp and Development centre was at a novice hockey game Sunday morning.

“I was walking through the stands and everybody had a cellphone and they were voting during the game,” said Parsons.

Sylvan Lake is going head to head with Salmon Arm, British Columbia for the chance at $100,0000. Parsons said he hopes this means more people in Alberta will throw their support behind the Sylvan Lake project.

Out of the western bracket the town with the most votes goes on to a final against the eastern projects, this time it is down to rinks in either Kingston, Nova Scotia, or Bedeque, Prince Edward Island.

People have until the end of Monday to cast their vote. People can vote as many times as they want and can do so by visiting www.krafthockeyville.ca or by phoning 1-866-533-8066.

The winner of the last two in the west bracket will be announced this coming Saturday during the CBC’s broadcast of Hockey Night in Canada.

mcrawford@www.reddeeradvocate.com