Lumby Win’s Hosted In Vernon

Funding for any sport can be a hard-sell to the local community, given the fact that each area is in need of other various requests from many groups or organizations.

Along came Kraft Hockeyville, which is unique so as to supply funding to rebuild or refurbish the local arena.

This is an annual competition sponsored by Kraft Foods, the NHLPA and the NHL where they invite different communities to show their commitment to the game.

This was first started in 2006 as a reality TV series and is held in the later half of the NHL regular season with the winning entry hosting a game between two NHL clubs in pre-season play.

The game is normally played just before the start of the regular season in late September in the arena either in or closest to the winning entry.

This year’s winning entry was Lumby BC, which (due to size) is unable to host the game at the local town’s arena, so the game was moved to be played in Vernon at the Kal Tire Place.

Along with the game taking place between Edmonton and the LA Kings, the game features a local touch with NHL Referee Tom Kowal being one of the four officials working the game.

It’s interesting as Tom being one of four officials working just happens to call Vernon home and was born and raised in Vernon

Tom wears number 32 and has been a NHL Official since signing in 1999-2000, but now resides in High River Alberta.

Tom will work alongside Referee Kyle Reghman who calls Red Deer home, but both linesmen are from BC.

Lonnie Cameron (#74) is from Victoria, while Kiel Murchison (#79) is from Vancouver.

Tom played his minor hockey in Vernon and eventually went on to help his Father (Ernie) coach an Atom team – but only for one year.

His Father was a co-owner of the BCJHL Vernon Essos for several years, while his brother-in-law (Vern Dye) founded the Vernon franchise.

Tom’s first cousin, the late Wayne Dye, was Vernon’s Athlete of the Century after being drafted by both the NHL and Major League Baseball.

In a pure show of professionalism all four officials will conduct a refereeing clinic Saturday, the day prior to

the game, but it will be held at Pat Duke Memorial Arena in Lumby.

Tom along with his family will (at some point in the day) spend an hour with the Stanley Cup on Saturday.

All regular-season rules are in effect for the game and if O/T is required it will be a four-on-four, five-minute O/T period followed by and shootout, if it is required.

While some might question this as simply a marketing ploy by Kraft Foods, regardless of what is behind this, it’s working and helping the minor Associations save money.

Great move and clearly a win – win for everyone!!