What is said to have begun as a friendly competition between two communities in the Kraft Hockeyville competition finished with what has been described as a celebration of sportsmanship and friendship between the Town of Taber, AB, and Tumbler Ridge.
The jersey exchange was proposed by Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka before the Hockeyville winner was announced. According to Taber Mayor Andrew Prokop, Krakowka suggested that whichever community finished as runner-up would wear the other community’s hockey sweater. Prokop agreed to the idea and discussed it with Taber council and administration.
Taber town council members followed through on the idea at their Aug. 17 meeting, wearing Tumbler Ridge Raptors jerseys. Tumbler Ridge councillors returned the gesture at their Sept. 1 regular meeting, wearing colours representing the Taber Oil Kings.
The exchange grew from the communities’ shared support for their respective arenas, hockey programs, volunteers and the generations of memories connected to the facilities.
According to officials in both communities, what began as a competition for Hockeyville recognition gave the communities an opportunity to connect beyond the contest.
“Two communities. Two jerseys,” the communities said in a joint message celebrating the exchange. “And, in all the ways that matter most, two winners.”
The municipalities said the exchange also helped shift attention away from negative comments circulating on social media and toward the spirit of community pride and sportsmanship behind the competition.
According to officials with both Taber and Tumbler Ridge, the Hockeyville connection has become about more than which community wins a competition. It is about the people who support their arenas, the volunteers who keep local hockey going and the shared sense of pride that comes with having a place where generations can gather.
Taber won the 2026 Kraft Hockeyville competition, with Tumbler Ridge finishing as the runner-up. While the two communities started as competitors, the jersey exchange has given them an opportunity to celebrate the Hockeyville experience as friends.
