Many of the residents of Tumbler Ridge were packed into its local rink on Saturday ahead of the announcement of this year’s Kraft Hockeyville champion.
While the small community finished second to Taber, Alberta, whose rink was rendered unusable by a Zamboni explosion last December, local leaders say they are still winners.
“We got $50,000 from winning the province, and then on Saturday night when we got second place,” Mayor Darryl Krakowka told CityNews.
“We got another $100,000 for rink upgrades, so the total of $150,000 for rink upgrades, and then also got $10,000 for equipment, for hockey equipment, so we’re winners, it was exciting.”
He adds that after the extreme trauma of February’s school shooting, to see the kids getting excited for this competition was a beautiful sight.
“It’s still fresh, I know people say, ‘It’s been two months already,’ it doesn’t feel like two months. Just to watch our children running around, smiling, and high-fiving and fist-bumping each other, it was amazing.”
The community centre became a true support hub for residents in the wake of the tragedy, which Krakowka says underscores the necessity of investing in it.
“It’s the heart of our community, that’s where everyone comes to gather, including on the day of the tragedy,” he said.
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“They brought juice and water and snacks and everything, knowing that’s where we were going to gather, that’s the heart. Our children and youth know that’s a place that’s safe.”
The days leading up to the final announcement on Hockey Night in Canada were a blur of mini sticks and road hockey in the town, with cameos from NHL alumni like Chris Higgins and Andrew Ferrence.
When it came to finding out the result, even some of those families who were directly affected by the tragedy came out.
“I think they know the power they have behind them within this community,” Krakowka said.
February’s events couldn’t have been more strongly felt by the local hockey club, the Tumbler Ridge Raptors.
Ezekial Schofield, one of the victims of the shooting, and Maya Gebala, who is still recovering from the multiple gunshot wounds she suffered, were both on the U-13 team.
Krakowka says that the surviving players have exhibited incredible strength in the time since.
“I think it was two weeks after the tragedy, we still had some regular season games coming up on a weekend, and it was already scheduled, and those teams and those children and youth came forward saying they wanted to play.”
That willingness to play through adversity is not only a testament to the character of Tumbler Ridge but also the healing properties of a good game of hockey.