Young hockey players took to the ice for practice on Friday at the Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva. Supporters of the two-rink facility are involved in a contest to win a National Hockey League exhibition game in Geneva. (Suburban Chronicle photo)

Fans of Fox Valley Ice Arena are showing the Geneva rinks a lot of love these days.
And they’re hoping public signs of affection and support are enough to bring a big time hockey game to the Kirk Road rink.

Fox Valley is among the top 10 contenders in a contest to host a National Hockey League preseason game next fall in a nationwide Kraft Hockeyville contest, now underway.

Supporters of the Geneva rink already know which team they want to play there.

“It would be an honor for our rink to win this award and host a preseason Blackhawks game,” wrote one voter on the Kraft Hockeyville site, www.krafthockeyville.com.

Fox Valley Ice Arena ranked 10th last week, according to one published report. And it’s far and away the leader among 102 Illinois facilities nominated in the contest, sponsored by Northfield-based Kraft Foods Group, Inc.

It had 123 votes through last Friday. The Oak Lawn Park District’s Ice Rink was a distant second with 42.

“Our town has many young hockey players and I believe that is because of the positive influence of the Chicago Blackhawks,” stated another testimonial. “Many children aspire to be great at the sport and Fox Valley is the place to start. They have many programs for all levels of skaters along with very knowledgeable coaches and staff.”

This the first year the Hockeyville contest is being held in the United States, after eight years of exclusive Canadian entries. Sylvan Lake, Alberta was the 2014 winner and hosted a game between the Phoenix Coyotes and the Calgary Flames.

Nominations opened Jan. 1 and close on March 10. The top 10 finishers will be named on April 14 and grand prize winner is unveiled on April 5.

The top prize includes the NHL preseason game at the rink, plus a $150,000 donation from Kraft for rink upgrades.