Hockey fever in Navan has gone to the dogs.
Sylvia Schaus’ four-legged friends, Jackson and Eli, were decked out in homemade Navan for Hockeyville jackets Sunday as the east-Ottawa village vied for the coveted title.
“Hockey in my house is very big. I’m glad we only have one child,” she said at the Navan Memorial Centre.
Her son, Connor Schaus-Leger, 10, dreams of being an NHL player one day.
From young to old, hundreds turned out to celebrate 100 years of hockey history in the rural east Ottawa village.
They also came out to support the campaign to win a national contest.
“The community submitted 979 stories, which is pretty good for a village of about 550 homes,” said Lyne Proulx, co-chair of the 2011 campaign.
From signs on school buses to front lawn decorations, this is a big change from just 125 stories a year ago.
If Navan places in the country’s top four, prize money will pay for upgrades to the arena — theirs is almost 30 years old.
“It would be cool because I play there a lot,” said Schaus-Leger, who plays for the Cumberland Jr. Grads.
The winning community is chosen based on stories and votes, not to mention, heart.
A fractured wrist couldn’t keep Sydney Lemoyre, 10, away.
“My mom asked me to stay home ‘cause I fractured my wrist but I said, ‘no I love my community too much so I’m coming today,’” she said.
Their family is at the rink every weekend, said her dad, Darin Hartwell.
“We usually come Saturday nights and Sundays and then catch the first period of the Grads game.”
Old-timer Richard Julien sported a bright yellow hockey jersey with more than 300 signatures supporting Navan.
Hockeyville winners will be announced March 8.
kelly.roche@sunmedia.ca
Kelly Roche - Storyteller 