Home to the Iconic Movie “Slapshot,” Cambria County War Memorial Arena Named to Final Four for Kraft Hockeyville USA Title

The historic Cambria County War Memorial Arena located here has been named a Final Four finalist for Kraft’s Hockeyville USA title and its leaders are once again urging fans to vote for the arena as it seeks to become Kraft’s $150,000 award winner for renovations to the arena featured in the classic hockey movie, “Slapshot.” The arena, which initiated construction in 1948 after World War II, was built to honor veteran and active U.S. military personnel across all the Armed Services.

Dave Hanson, who portrayed Jack Hanson, one of the fictional Hanson Brothers recruited by the late Paul Newman as enforcers for the flagging Charlestown Chiefs during their 1976 – and final – season in the Federal League, said the Cambria County War Memorial Arena was the perfect venue for the movie “Slapshot” and fully supports the effort to be named Hockeyville USA. “We had an absolute blast filming at the arena and the entire Johnstown community was an integral part of the legendary movie. They are the best fans a community could ever hope for and we wish them the best as they pursue the Hockeyville USA title,” he said.

The entire Johnstown Tomahawks staff wishes to extend their deepest thanks to the Pittsburgh Penguins organization for their incredible support in spreading the word about the contest via all their communications channels and social media platforms.

Cambria County War Memorial Arena fans are encouraged to vote for their historic venue beginning Tuesday, April 21st at 12:00 a.m. ET through Wednesday, April 22nd at 11:59 p.m. ET. Fans can do so via online, text message or calling a toll-free number.

Fans can vote up to 150 times per day and 50 times per method via the following online, text and toll-free methods:

• Vote online at www.krafthockeyville.com;
• Text “CAMBRIA” to 35350; or
• Call the toll-free Tomahawks hotline at 1-855-255-5975

Kraft selected 10 communities across the United States (East and West Categories) as being the most passionate hockey towns in America, with three rounds of voting to select the winning community for the $150,000 in stadium upgrades, as well as the opportunity to host a 2015 NHL pre-season hockey game. By advancing to the Final Four, each arena is guaranteed to receive as least $40,000 in rink upgrades for their venue. That number will escalate to a guaranteed $75,000 if the Cambria County War Memorial Arena advances to the third and final round, which is set for voting from April 27-29, 2015. The final vote will pit the top second round vote-getter from each category against each other for the chance to be named Kraft Hockeyville USA.

About the Kraft Hockeyville USA 2015 Award

Sponsored by Kraft, the National Hockey League and the NHL Players Association, the Hockeyville USA competition’s Final Four finalists were subject to a panel of judges’ review based on community pride, passion for hockey and creativity/originality serving as the three primary criteria. Additional information can be found at www.johnstowntamahawks.com and at the Johnstown Hockeyville Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Johnstown-Hockeyville/920996771267401.

About the NAHL

The NAHL, the only USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier II Junior league boasting 28 teams from across North America, prides itself on the social maturity and skill development of student-athletes ages 16-20 with aspirations of advancing to collegiate and/or professional hockey. To date, more than 77 Cambria County War Memorial Arena players have advanced to the NHL, a record in the United States that still stands after 60 years. For more information, visit www.nahl.com.