Damage is shown following an explosion at an ice rink in the town of Taber, Alta. in this December 2025 handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — Town of Taber (Mandatory Credit)

By The Canadian Press

Tumbler Ridge, B.C. or Taber, Alta., set to be named Hockeyville winner

Apr 4, 2026 | 1:29 PM

One community is going to get a major boost for its ice rink tonight as the Kraft Hockeyville 2026 winner is scheduled to be announced.

Tumbler Ridge, B.C., and Taber, Alta., are the two finalists vying for $250,000, while the runner-up will receive $100,000.

The winner will be determined by online voting that took place over Friday and Saturday, and will be announced during a National Hockey League game Saturday night.

Tumbler Ridge is recovering after a devastating mass shooting on Feb. 10, when eight victims were shot dead, including 13-year-old Ezekiel Schofield, who played hockey with the Tumbler Ridge Raptors.

Another Raptors player, Maya Gebala, was also seriously injured in the attack. Late last month Gebala was transferred out of the intensive care unit and will now focus on recovery and rehab.

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In Taber, residents lost their only two ice rinks after a Zamboni explosion. The repairs to rebuild the two rinks are expected to cost about $11 million.

The town said propane leaking from the Zamboni led to the explosion, after a nearby heater ignited the gas. A fireball caused extensive damage, including shattered glass, a damaged roof and toppled concrete walls.

The money will be used to upgrade the communities’ arenas, and the winner also has a chance to host an NHL pre-season game.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 4, 2026.

The Canadian Press