Town will receive $250,000 for rink upgrades and host an NHL\u00ae Pre-Season game, with the runner-up, Tumbler Ridge, BC, receiving $100,000<\/i> <\/p>\n
Both communities will also receive $10,000 in new hockey equipment from NHLPA Goals & Dreams and the NHL\/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund<\/i> <\/p>\n
TORONTO \u2014 Kraft Heinz, in partnership with the National Hockey League (NHL\u00ae) and the National Hockey League Players\u2019 Association (NHLPA), is pleased to announce that Taber, Alberta <\/b>has been named the winner of Kraft Hockeyville 2026. <\/p>\n
Taber, Alberta <\/b>will receive $250,000 for rink upgrades, plus the opportunity to host an NHL\u00ae Pre-Season game for their community in the fall of 2027. The runner-up, Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, <\/b>will be awarded $100,000 for rink upgrades\u2014four times the runner-up prize of previous years, as part of the initiative\u2019s expanded prize pool to mark its 20th anniversary year. In total, Kraft Hockeyville 2026 represents more than $1 million in total prizing: the largest investment in program history. Both Taber, Alberta and Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, along with the 11 Provincial and Territorial finalists, will also receive $10,000 in brand-new hockey equipment to help more children play the game, courtesy of NHLPA Goals & Dreams and the NHL\/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund. <\/p>\n
Through a nationwide vote, Canadians selected Taber, Alberta, as the winner of Kraft Hockeyville 2026, with the town earning the title for its powerful story of resilience, pride, and the central role its rink plays in bringing the community together. Sportscaster Ron MacLean and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the news on Sportsnet\u2019s Hockey Night in Canada<\/i> broadcast earlier tonight. <\/p>\n
For more than 50 years, the Taber Community Centre has been a cornerstone of local life. The arena is home to teams like the Oil Kings and AA Golden Suns, and is a hub for games, tournaments and local events. After a December 2025 explosion left the arena inoperable, the town lost a vital gathering place. Winning Kraft Hockeyville 2026 will support critical repairs and help restore the rink as a space where the community can come together once again. <\/p>\n
\u201cCongratulations to Taber, Alberta on being named the winner of Kraft Hockeyville 2026, and to all of this year\u2019s first-ever Provincial & Territorial Winners,\u201d said Simon Laroche, President, Kraft Heinz Canada. \u201cFor more than a century, Kraft Heinz has been enriching Canadians\u2019 lives through food and the moments of connection it brings\u2014both at the table and in communities across the country. Now, in our milestone 20th anniversary year of Kraft Hockeyville, we\u2019ve seen just how deeply local rinks matter\u2014not only as places to play, but as the heart of communities. From stories of resilience to moments of connection, this year\u2019s communities reminded us that hockey is about far more than the game\u2014it\u2019s about showing up for one another. We\u2019re proud to help bring this spirit to life in rinks across Canada.\u201d <\/p>\n
The announcement of the 2026 winning community officially concludes the 20th-anniversary year of the Kraft Hockeyville program. This year introduced an all-new Top 13 phase, awarding funding to one community from every province and territory\u2014meaning more Canadian communities than ever before could benefit from critical rink upgrade funding. Communities from coast to coast to coast showed up in full force, reinforcing the vital role of local rinks. <\/p>\n
Kraft Hockeyville will continue to support Canadian communities and the rinks that help keep them connected. For complete program details, please visit krafthockeyville.ca<\/a>. <\/p>\n About Kraft Heinz Canada<\/b> <\/p>\n Kraft Heinz Canada\u2019s heritage can be traced back over a century to when James Lewis Kraft of Stevensville, Ontario began selling cheese from a horse-drawn wagon in 1903. Heinz Canada was established in 1909 in Leamington, Ontario where its first products were pickles sourced from local growers. Following the 2015 merger between Kraft Foods Group and H.J. Heinz Company, Kraft Heinz Canada became a subsidiary of the newly formed Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ: KHC). Now the country\u2019s second largest food and beverage company, iconic Kraft Heinz Canada products like Kraft Peanut Butter, Heinz Ketchup, KD, Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Ren\u00e9es Dressing, Jell-O, Classico, Kool-Aid and Maxwell House are found in over 97 per cent of Canadian households. <\/p>\n Kraft Heinz Canada is driving transformation inspired by Kraft Heinz\u2019s global purpose, Let\u2019s Make Life Delicious, by creating memorable community moments through local initiatives and the impactful program we\u2019re celebrating here, Kraft Hockeyville, while also supporting food banks across Canada through Kraft Heinz Groceries for Good program. Learn more about our journey by visiting kraftheinz.com or following us on LinkedIn. <\/p>\n NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. \u00a9 2026 NHL. All Rights Reserved.<\/i> <\/p>\n NHLPA and the NHLPA logo are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League Players\u2019 Association. \u00a9 NHLPA. All Rights Reserved.<\/i> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n View source version on businesswire.com: <\/span> https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20260404356082\/en\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Contacts<\/b><\/p>\n For more information or to speak with a representative from Kraft Hockeyville, please contact: ![\"logo\"\/](\"https:\/\/mms.businesswire.com\/media\/20260404356082\/en\/2765859\/3\/Hockeyville_Anniversary_Logo_EN.jpg\"){kind=logo}
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The Kraft Heinz Company, media@kraftheinz.com<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n