Trevor Madge loves playing hockey. He coaches his young son with the Powassan Hawks.
Madge, who plays in the Trout Creek men's league, got together with a few people including teammate Travis Tennant to come up with a plan to help keep the Trout Creek Community Centre rink operating for years to come.
"Over the years of playing we have noticed degradation at the arena," explained Madge.
"The roof is actually sagging in the arena and there had been some talks from the township that they would be potentially closing it if we couldn't raise funds to fix it."
Trout Creek, which is located on the south end of the municipality of Powassan, is a quaint town located just 30 minutes south of North Bay off Highway 11 and 40 minutes north of Huntsville
The arena's roof is currently supported by temporary wooden structures. Madge says that news caused some of the hockey enthusiasts in Trout Creek to look for funding ideas to try and see if they can help save the building which opened in 1972.
Travis Tennant came up with the idea of entering their hometown rink into the Hockeyville competition.
"I have been familiar with Kraft Hockeyville for quite a few years and especially seeing Elliot Lake win," he said.
Tennant believes much like Elliot Lake, a boost from Hockeyville might be enough to keep their rink alive. North Bay won the competition back in 2006 when they won $50,000 towards a digital sign at North Bay Memorial Gardens that was torn down in 2013 during the Memorial Gardens arena upgrades.
"It was nice to see a northern town win it and this year winning it would mean more than anything after hearing about the arena," noted Tennant about Elliot Lake winning in 2024.
"The town of Powassan needs the funds more than anything to keep this place open."
Tennant and Madge add that the Trout Creek Community Centre is not only crucial for hockey but also serves as a community centre and disaster shelter.
Kraft Hockeyville is an annual competition that grants one deserving community $250,000 in arena upgrades and the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to host an NHL® pre-season game.
Tennant says the community has an opportunity to rally behind this nomination to secure a brighter future for its beloved arena.
"Funds from Hockeyville would be vital for repairs or potential rebuilding," Tennant noted.
"The community values the arena highly, as it hosts various events and is vital for hockey in a large region. The loss of the arena could significantly impact the community and local hockey."
Tennant and Madge hope to continue to build momentum for their build including a potential Hockeyville rally at their community centre in the coming weeks.
Visit the Rally Page Head to the official Trout Creek Community Centre Rally Page right HERE.
