1,200 entries received for Hockey Anthem Challenge

In less than a month, Canada's Hockey Anthem Challenge has yielded entries ranging from cats screeching to Canadian icons crooning, all in an effort to choose new theme music for Hockey Night in Canada.

Since the contest was launched on June 19, CBC Sports has received 1,200 entries from across Canada, including a wide array of musical styles. They range from pop, punk, country and hip hop to classical, soul, funk and even heavy metal.

Most fall into the rock category, with 543 entries as of Friday. Among those entries is Hockey Rock, composed by legendary Canadian guitarist and songwriter Randy Bachman.

In a category all to itself is Hockey Scores, submitted by Logan Aube of Aurora, Ont. It features crying babies, screeching cats and gunshots, but has become the most viewed and top-rated entry on the contest's website, with nearly 29,000 views. Discussion surrounding Hockey Scores has also spread to personal blogs and other news outlets.

But the entry's popularity might not ensure victory.

The "ratings," "recommendations" and "most viewed" portions of the contest website are just some of the factors judges will consider when selecting the contest semi-finalists, who will be presented to the country and judged by a celebrity panel on a CBC network television special on Oct. 4.

Two finalists will then face off at the beginning of the HNIC doubleheader on Thursday Oct. 9, with fans having the opportunity to vote for the winner.

The new theme will be unveiled two days later on the traditional Saturday broadcast of Hockey Night in Canada. The winning entry will receive $100,000 in cash and half of the ongoing performance royalties, with the other half going to Canadian minor league hockey.

The submission deadline for entries is 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 31, but the number of entries so far has been music to the ears of CBC Sports executive director Scott Moore.

"The response from Canadians has been extraordinary. We couldn't be more pleased," said Moore. "As of this morning, the fact that we've received 1,200 submissions from coast to coast in such a short period of time exemplifies that this is truly a national competition and Canadians are thrilled about the opportunity to be a part of hockey history."

Fans can continue to weigh in on submissions, posting reviews and ratings at the contest website CBCSports.ca/hockey/anthemchallenge.