By Hockey Saskatchewan

MELVILLE, Sask. - The Saskatchewan Hockey Association, in cooperation with SaskEnergy, announced today the date and host community for the fifth annual SaskEnergy Hockey Day in Saskatchewan. 

The event takes place the third Saturday in January annually.  The 5^th Annual SaskEnergy Hockey Day in Saskatchewan is scheduled for January 21, 2012, and the host community is the City of Melville.

The main theme of SaskEnergy Hockey Day in Saskatchewan is to promote the game of hockey and to build community spirit by making the arena the focal point of activity for the day or the weekend. One community is chosen annually to serve as the Provincial host of the event and for the 2012 event Melville’s bid has been selected.  One of the criteria for the selection of the Provincial host is that there must be an arena renovation or building project.  The City of Melville is currently raising funds for the final phase of its new Melville Communiplex.  The Communiplex is set to open in time for the 2011-12 hockey season.  For more information about the Melville Communiplex please go to http://www.melvillecommuniplex.com.

The SHA encourages every minor hockey association to hold an event in their own community for SaskEnergy Hockey Day in Saskatchewan during the weekend of January 20 – 22, 2012.  This promotion is to provide associations a platform from which to raise funds to keep the rinks alive and well in all communities, both big and small.

“The SHA is extremely pleased with the commitment from SaskEnergy to the partnership celebrating the great game of hockey across the province of Saskatchewan,” says Kelly McClintock, General Manager of the Saskatchewan Hockey Association.  “The event has been a tremendous success in its first four years, and we certainly hope to see that same success and more this year.  We are extremely excited to provide all minor hockey associations across the province an opportunity to focus on the game and to raise funds for their respective local arenas.” 

Over the first four years of the event, the host communities alone have brought in a total of $246,576.  More information about SaskEnergy Hockey Day in Saskatchewan please go to  http://www.hockeydayinsask.ca.

Also incorporated into the event is the SaskEnergy Volunteer Champion Award.  The SaskEnergy Volunteer Champion Award is available to be presented to an individual who has provided outstanding service as a volunteer to the local hockey community, either as a coach, an official, a team manager, or an association organizer.  The presentation of these awards usually occurs during the local SaskEnergy Hockey Day in Saskatchewan celebration activities.