Island-Sity

The Islanders won their place from a list of 278 communities across every province and territory in Canada, selected by a team of executives from CBC, Kraft Canada, and the NHL. They'll now contend for a place in the top five against nine other cities, based on votes cast by CBC viewers from today until March 13.

Wolfe Island resident Tony Vigar registered the community in the competition at the end of December and said she's anxious now to make it into the top five.

"Last year's winner (the city of Dundas) got 1.4 million votes," she said. "We're a community of 1,200."

Fellow campaign worker Mich­elle Joy echoes Vigar's concern.

"Even if we all did nothing but vote over and over for the five days straight we still wouldn't get it. So we need to get the word out to Kingston, Napanee, to anyone across Canada that knows of Wolfe Island."

Islanders have their e-mail lists ready, Joy said, plus they will be trying to spread the word and win voters using Facebook and Twitter.

"We're hoping for the viral marketing effect to get going."

Promotion at last Sunday's Kingston Frontenacs game, broadcast on COGECO, also really bolstered the cause.

"The Frontenacs came out for Wolfe Island Hockeyville Day last week, their organization has been really supportive," Joy said. "No matter what we needed — whether it was flyers circulated at games or a booth set up, they were on board."

The top five will be announced March 19. Three more days of voting follow that, before the original committee of executives makes the final call on a winner. The islanders would like to use the $100,000 to add cooling pipes and a roof to their outdoor ice pad, currently Wolfe Island's main arena. They've been working hard since December to showcase their community's spirit, originality, and love of hockey for the national competition.

CBC asks registrants to make their case at the Hockeyville website. The islanders have posted 16 videos, 166 personal hockey anecdotes, and 335 images, as well as organized several community events in the lead up to last night's announcement.

"Everybody just jumped in to this contest with both feet. It's exploded," Joy said. "It's been all-consuming. I was born and raised on this island, 42 years ago, and I have never seen the community come together around an initiative like this before."

Several people at Tuesday night's screening noted that the community was divided over controversial wind farm developments on the island, but the Hockeyville competition has brought them back together. Wolfe Islanders have hosted hockey tournaments, designed and sold T-shirt and hats, and even thrown a parade.

CBC contacted the campaign committee last month to let it know it had the network's attention, and that representatives would be coming to the island to screen. The pressure is really on now, Vigar said as they come into the final round.