On October 7, two years after a fire ruined the previous rink, residents of Elsipogtog First Nation finally get a first look at their new one. The new rink isn’t 100 per cent complete as there are still some issues with the ice-making system’s piping, which could mean the ice won’t be in place until the new year. But the previous rink suffered major damage after the fire in September of 2020, and community members campaigned to become Kraft Hockeyville 2021. When they won, they received $250,000 in rink upgrades and $100,000 in youth hockey equipment. They also won the right to host an NHL game with the Montreal Canadiens taking on the Ottawa Senators in a preseason game last Saturday in nearby Bouctouche. It still sits as a huge moment for the community and one its people have been waiting for since the Hockeyville announcement. Photo submitted.
