Taber, Alta., named 1 of 13 provincial winners in Kraft Hockeyville competition

The Town of Taber was named 2026 Kraft Hockeyville champion on Saturday.

The Town of Taber got some good news Saturday night, when it was named a provincial winner in the Kraft Hockeyville competition.

Thirteen provincial and regional winners were selected from across the country. 11 of them will receive $50,000 for arena upgrades or more if they move on to the final two.

Each community also receives $10,000 worth of hockey equipment, courtesy of the NHL Players Association’s Goals and Dreams and the NHL/NHLPA’s Industry Growth Fund.

“Today is an incredible honour for the Town of Taber!,” the town said in a statement.

“To be named Alberta’s representative in Kraft Hockeyville is something we do not take lightly. We are grateful to Kraft Heinz for creating a program that gives communities across Canada the opportunity to rally around the rinks that mean so much to them.”

Among the communities that Taber will be in competition against are Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia; Grandview, Manitoba; Sackville, New Brunswick; Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador; Fort Providence, Northwest Territories; Thorburn, Nova Scotia; Arviat, Nunavut; Blackstock, Ontario; Cornwall, Prince Edward Island; Scott, Quebec; Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan; and Haines Junction, Yukon.

Two finalists will be named on March 21.

Zamboni explodes

Taber is raising funds to rebuild its community centre arena, which was badly damaged Dec. 17, 2025, when a Zamboni exploded inside it.

On March 27-28, the southern Alberta town, which is famous for its corn, is hosting the Play On Street Hockey tournament, which will feature a number of former NHL players including Brian Skrudland, Kelly Buchberger and Rich Sutter in addition to three-time Olympic gold medal winner Rebecca Johnston.

“Rinks are not just buildings,” the town said in its media statement. “They are gathering places, classrooms, and community anchors where children grow up, volunteers give their time, and memories are made that last a lifetime.

“In moments of hardship, arenas become even more important. They are where we gather, where we support one another, and where we begin again.”