Butch Purdue has been ready to take his 11-year-old son Jimmy to see his favorite NHL workforce, the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Sunday afternoon, the West Lorne residents picked up their free tickets to Wednesday’s exhibition recreation between the Leafs and Buffalo Sabres being performed in close by St. Thomas, Ont.
“Tickets are usually so costly, so simply having the ability to take him to a recreation is what I’m wanting ahead to,” mentioned Butch.
The exhibition contest is being hosted by West Lorne as a part of their Kraft Hockeyville (KH) contest win earlier this spring.
Over the previous week, West Lorne minor hockey households, in addition to West Elgin Skating Membership members and a few neighborhood members, certified for the out there tickets.
The sport is being performed on the Joe Thornton Neighborhood Centre, as West Lorne Area isn’t appropriate to host an NHL recreation because of capability and security requirements.
Jimmy Purdue can’t wait to see his favorite gamers.
“I haven’t been to an NHL recreation and I wish to see Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews,” mentioned Jimmy.
A fast drive via the small Elgin County neighborhood, and the spirit was in all places.
“We see a variety of embellished homes on the market, blue and pink and black and yellow,” mentioned Jessica Small, a member of the West Lorne Kraft Hockeyville Committee. “Individuals are getting actually pumped for this week.”
These folks embrace Peter Barnes and his son Daniel who picked up their tickets.
“I’ve been a Leafs fan my complete life,” mentioned Peter. “So is Daniel, so it’s nice we get to see this recreation due to Kraft Hockeyville.”
A day previous to the exhibition recreation, West Lorne will host a large neighborhood celebration Tuesday.
“The Stanley Cup is coming to West Lorne, which is a as soon as in a lifetime alternative,” mentioned Small. “Now we have our alumni from the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres, so Darcy Tucker and ‘Sugar’ Rob Ray will probably be right here. We have a free skate, meals vehicles and we have video games.”
The KH grand prize got here together with $250,000 in enviornment upgrades. The committee helps elevate more money for the minor hockey affiliation by promoting merchandise on the enviornment.
The legacy items are additionally now on show on the native rink.
“You may see our ice (Hockeyville brand) will probably be there perpetually, in addition to our items on the opposite facet of the sector,” mentioned Small. “Each time you drive via, you will know that you already know West Lorne gained Kraft Hockeyville 2023. Then afterwards, it is on to the sector renovations. So we’re excited to see what that appears like as properly.”