N.L. Hockeyville winner may not get game

People in the eastern Newfoundland town of Conception Bay South may have won the national Kraft Hockeyville 2011 competition, but if the town's arena doesn't meet the league's standards, the game may have to be hosted in a neighbouring community.

Conception Bay South was selected out of more than 8,000 individual submissions. With a population of 24,000, the town received 995,368 votes to secure the title--300,000 more votes than second-place Mackenzie, B.C.

Representatives from the league, the NHL players association, Kraft Hockeyville and CBC are here this week to size up the town's Robert French Memorial Stadium. Conception Bay South mayor Woodrow French said he had hoped to hear a decision by Wednesday.

"They will make the decision, hopefully today or tomorrow, if we're going to be able to host the game here or if we should look for other venues. This is pretty well a call of Kraft and Hockey Night in Canada and the NHLPA," French told CBC News on Tuesday.

"They're going to give the building a really good looking at and, from what I understand in talking to staff, they'll also give us some suggestions as to some things that we could do within the building. But they'll tell us what needs to be brought up to standard if the NHL hockey team is going to play there."

French said they already know parts of the stadium don't meet NHL standards, specifically the height of the glass on the spectator side of the arena.

If the officials reject the CBS stadium, the game could be held at a venue like Mile One in St. John's.

Late Tuesday, French told CBC Newsthatofficials had toured the stadium and informed the towna final decision would be made within two weeks.