Rankin shoots, hopes to score

JOHN THOMPSON

Expect hundreds of Rankin Inlet residents, young and old, to be hunched around their televisions and radios next Friday, June 9.

That’s when the top 10 finalists will be announced for CBC’s Hockeyville contest.

The contest winner gets $50,000 worth of upgrades to their community arena, and $10,000 in hockey equipment.

Rankin Inlet, home of Jordin Tootoo of the Nashville Predators, remains in the top 25. It’s the only community in Canada’s three territories chosen for the event.

To compete, Rankin residents crowded onto a frozen lake for a video that shows them standing in formation to spell out “HOCKEYVILLE.”

“I think we were pretty close to 1,000,” recreation coordinator Jackson Lindell said of the turnout.

Not bad for a community of about 2,600.

“It wasn’t just kids. It wasn’t just teenagers. Everyone, I mean everyone, from Rankin came out,” Lindell said.

Lindell said the event has united Rankin residents who were once rivals, even enemies.

We’re talking about Leafs and Canadians fans.

“It can get pretty funny, and it can get pretty serious too,” he said of the rivalry. “A lot of the guys bug each other.”

Today a delegation of hockey nuts, including mayor Lorne Kusugak, will head to Hamilton, Ontario, for filming of the fifth episode, where the Hockeyville cup will be unveiled.

Is winning everything? Well, each of the five finalist communities will receive $10,000 in hockey equipment. But Lindell said Rankin has their eyes on the big prize.

“We didn’t enter to come in second place. We entered to win.”

The winning Hockeyville team will be announced on Sunday, June 11.

You can vote for the winning team, beginning tonight until Wednesday, June 7, by calling 1-888-HKY-2006, or visiting www.cbc.ca/hockeyville.