Entries are now open for next year's Kraft Hockeyville contest and the Kimberley Civic Centre is on the list.

Kraft Hockeyville searches for Canada's most hockey-connected community each year. Cranbrook gave it a very good run last year but came up just short.

The rewards are far more than just bragging rights. The winning community will receive $100,000 in arena upgrades courtesy of Kraft Canada; a 2012/13 NHL Pre-Season Game played in their local community arena; and a special CBC Hockey Night in Canada broadcast from their community. Four runner-up communities will receive $25,000 each for arena upgrades from Kraft Canada.

Kimberley's bid was put up under Kimberley Civic Centre on the Hockeyville website at www.krafthockeyville.cbc.ca but Lindsay Rogers from Kraft says that they are unable to trace the source.

But that doesn't matter, she says. It's up there and can proceed through the nomination process. All that is needed to finish the application process is for someone from Kimberley to submit a 500 word story about hockey in Kimberley or a photo.

"As many people as possible from the community can go online with a 500 word hockey story," Rogers said.

"Every story is judged. In the past we've had submissions with only one story and photo, but the more the better. It's about community spirit."

Rogers says that while Kimberley is a small community it's often the smaller communities that really get people behind them.

"Communities are selected based on the quality of the submission," Rogers said.

She urges Kimberley residents to get writing if they'd like to see the application go forward.

"We are accepting applications until January 31, 2012, but the early bird entry is a new component this year. An early bird community can win $10,000 worth of hockey equipment. That deadline is December 16."

The Hockeyville contest is immensely popular in Canada.

"Last year we received 297 unique community submissions," Rogers said. "Every year it increases. This year chances increase with a top 15 instead of a top 10 and three communities per region making the finals. Then it goes through a series of voting until we have a top five."

Kimberley is currently unqualified until someone submits a story or photo to get the ball rolling.

If you'd like to contribute, visit krafthockeyville.cbc.ca and follow the instructions to sign up and submit a story or photo.