'Vote, vote, vote:' Ituna makes final push in Kraft Hockeyville contest

The big push for votes is on in Ituna, Saskatchewan.

The community, located about 140 kilometres northeast of Regina, is one of two finalists for the Kraft Hockeyville contest.

Ituna is competing against O’Leary, P.E.I., for the Hockeyville title and the chance to host a National Hockey League preseason game.

Since voting for the final opened Sunday morning a committee of people in town have been hunkered down in front of their computers in their homes voting non-stop.

The town’s economic development officer cleared her schedule Monday to focus on helping the community win. “My job today is to vote,” chuckled Carla Sauve, who filled out the paperwork and entered the town in the competition.

Sauve isn’t alone. She estimated hundreds of people just in town are doing the same thing.

“I’m pretty sure there isn’t one person around who isn’t voting,” she said.
 
With voting closing Monday at 10 p.m. the community is asking the entire province to get behind them. Sauve said it’s been amazing to see the messages of support come in from all over the country.
 
“You know, people who have no ties to Ituna are giving it their all. It’s not just one vote. They’re spending hours voting. Some people are up all night voting.”
 
For making it this far both communities have secured $100,000 toward arena upgrades. Ituna is putting their funds toward a new building.
 
“We’re at the point we are beyond repairs,” Sauve said.
 
“The arena board has been doing a phenomenal job of raising money already. Now, as a town, this is our main focus.”
 
A Saskatchewan community has never won the Kraft Hockeyville contest.
 
The winning community will be announced on April 1.

You can vote online as many times as you like.