The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minster of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, today congratulated the Town of Harbour Grace on being named the Atlantic Region finalist in the Kraft Hockeyville 2009 competition. The announcement was made Saturday night (January 31) during CBC's Hockey Night in Canada broadcast.

"The extraordinary voting efforts of the people of Harbour Grace - and Newfoundlanders and Labradorians across the province and the country - have paid off," said Minister Jackman. "The $25,000 prize awarded for placement in the top five finalists from throughout Canada will no doubt be put to good use at the S.W. Moores Memorial Stadium, and will benefit all those who participate in recreation and sport activities there."

Harbour Grace came out ahead of Stanley, New Brunswick, to win the Atlantic Region spot, and to make the town eligible for the second and final round of voting. The winner of round two will be named Hockeyville 2009 and be awarded an additional $100,000 to be used for upgrading the local arena, along with an opportunity to host an NHL pre-season game and a CBC Hockey Night in Canada broadcast.

"Like the spirit and determination shown to the country by Danny Cleary this past year, once again we have shown our hockey pride and determination by rallying almost 250,000 votes," said the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, MHA for Carbonear-Harbour Grace. "Voting in the final round will require a huge commitment, and I am confident that the team organized by Zoe Anderson, Chair of the Harbour Grace Hockeyville Committee, will get the job done."

Harbour Grace Mayor Don Coombs said the challenge now is to keep the momentum going, and asked that all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians remember to support Harbour Grace again when the second round of voting begins on February 28. Individuals can vote as often as they choose. Details can be viewed at: www.cbc.ca/hockeyville/.

"We are very excited to be named a finalist and I want to thank everyone who voted to help us make it this far," said Mayor Coombs. "I have a feeling we can win it - because Harbour Grace simply 'is' Hockeyville."

CBC's Hockey Night in Canada will broadcast from Harbour Grace on February 7 and, at the end of the show, name the third national finalist for Hockeyville 2009 honours.

The Kraft Hockeyville competition searches for the Canadian community that best embodies the spirit of hockey and hometown pride. Last year, Port aux Basques was named a top five finalist, with Roberval, Quebec ultimately named the 2008 winner. Kraft Hockeyville 2009 is sponsored by Kraft Canada, together with the CBC, the National Hockey League (NHL), and the NHL Players' Association.

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