Home of "Slap Shot" Named a Finalist for Kraft Hockeyville Contest
April 11, 2015 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Johnstown Tomahawks News Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - The Pennsylvania town that inspired what many consider the greatest sports movie of all time has been named a finalist in Kraft Hockeyville, a national contest that seeks to reward the most passionate hockey community in the United States with $150,000 in rink upgrades and the opportunity to host an NHL preseason game. The contest is sponsored by Kraft, the National Hockey League, and the NHL Players Association.
Johnstown's Cambria County War Memorial Arena was named one of the contest's ten finalists Saturday afternoon during the national television broadcast of NBC's "NHL Live" Saturday afternoon. Johnstown and the other nine finalists now advance to the first of three voting rounds, with each community rallying to cast as many votes as possible between Tuesday, April 14, and Thursday, April 16.
Johnstown is known to hockey fans worldwide as the home of "Slap Shot," the iconic 1977 Paul Newman comedy about the Charlestown Chiefs hockey team. The fictional Chiefs were based largely on Johnstown's professional team at the time, the Johnstown Jets.
The Cambria County War Memorial opened in 1950 and was home to the Jets for 27 years and the ECHL's Johnstown Chiefs for 22 years. The Johnstown Tomahawks of the North American Hockey League are now the arena's primary tenant, averaging approximately 2,200 fans per game.
Johnstown led the nation with 2,471 nominations received during the first phase of the competition, which began Jan. 1 and ended March 18. Judges reviewed each nomination to select the ten finalists, with community pride, passion for hockey, and creativity/originality serving as the three primary criteria.
The contest divides the ten finalists into East and West categories. The top two vote-getters from each category will advance to the second round next week. The final round of voting, set for April 27-29, will pit the top second round vote-getters from each category against each other for the Kraft Hockeyville title.
All finalists in the contest are guaranteed a minimum of $20,000 in committee-approved rink upgrades, with the prize escalating to $40,000 for the East and West runners-up and $75,000 for the national runner-up.
Votes can be cast by clicking on Johnstown's link at KraftHockeyville.com, calling toll free 1-855-255-5975, or by texting "Cambria" to 35350. Individuals can vote 50 times per method, per day.
This is the first year that Kraft has held the Hockeyville contest in the United States. The Canadian version of the contest has been ongoing annually since 2006.
Additional information can be found at JohnstownTomahawks.com and at the Johnstown Hockeyville Facebook page.
North American Hockey League Stories from April 11, 2015
- Seven Goals and Shaw's Shutout Sends 'Cats Past Topeka, Ties Series - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Home of "Slap Shot" Named a Finalist for Kraft Hockeyville Contest - Johnstown Tomahawks
- Mistakes Cost Ice Miners in Game 1 Loss to Soo - Keystone Ice Miners
- Sweeping Success - Minot Minotauros
- Close Calls End Bobcats' Season - Bismarck Bobcats
- Runners Win, Score A College Commitment - Topeka Pilots
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