Maritime towns await Hockeyville finalists

It's a big night for small town hockey in the Maritimes because the five finalists for the Kraft Hockeyville competition will be announced Saturday.

There are 15 communities still in the running, and by the first intermission of the second Hockey Night in Canada game Saturday night, there'll be one finalist from each of the five regions.

In the Atlantic Region, Yarmouth, N.S. is up against St. Andrews, N.B. and Pownal, P.E.I.

Jimmy Dunne is the local organizer trying to get the votes out for the Pownal Sports Centre, just outside Charlottetown.

"We're a smaller province, but I think we've done fairly well. Other associations seem to be helping us out," Dunne said.

Four of the finalists will receive $25,000 for their hockey facilities. The top prize is $100,000 and a pre-season NHL game hosted in the community. 

Wayne Hamilton has been working on behalf of his hometown of Yarmouth and said getting to the next level would lift everyone's spirits, because the local economy has taken some hits lately.

"For the community, Yarmouth and the Acadian shores, we need something like this. I guess that's why we're all hoping," he said.

No matter what community makes the cut, celebrations will have to be short lived, because the next round of voting starts right away and lasts until Tuesday at 11:59 p.m.

The final winner will be announced at the end of the month.