Sylvan Lake, Alberta becomes ninth town to win title of Kraft Hockeyville

Kraft Hockeyville was developed by CBC Sports and has been an annual event since 2006. (Courtesy: Kraft/CBC.ca)

By Amy Lilek

Sylvan Lake, Alberta has been named Kraft Hockeyville 2014. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the winner during CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada broadcast on Saturday.

With a population of a little more than 15,000, the small Western Canadian town beat out 531 other communities, a record number, to win the annual competition.

After almost 16 million votes were cast throughout the competition, Sylvan Lake beat Kingston, Nova Scotia, by just over 100,000.

The Medican Multiplex will host a 2014-2015 preseason NHL game between the Phoenix Coyotes and Calgary Flames in September. The arena will also receive $100,000 in upgrades and the town will host a CBC broadcast.

Kingston, Nova Scotia, the runner-up, will also receive $100,000 in upgrades to its arena, the Credit Union Centre.