Kraft Hockeyville nominations are open.

Communities have until February 9th to make their pitches.

Organizers are looking for answers to three questions in the nomination submissions.

In addition to community spirit and passion for hockey, decision makers want to know the importance of their arenas, how the 250-thousand dollar prize money would be spent and an explanation why that community should be the winner who will also host an NHL preseason game.

That accounts for 80-percent of the overall score with 20-percent awarded for follow-up support like pictures posted to the Kraft Hockeyville website and videos on Twitter.

The Senior Brand Manager for Kraft Heinz says the competition has become part of the national conversation over the past 14 years.

Matt Bruce points out 3.5 million dollars has been awarded to 81 communities with 13 NHL preseason games played in eight different provinces.

The four finalists will be announced March 14th with the unlimited 36-hour final voting process beginning on the 27th.

The winner will be announced live during the Hockey Night in Canada Broadcast on the 28th.

Ituna, Lafleche and Wilkie Saskatchewan have been finalists the past three years, while Wilcox was a finalist in 2007 and Humboldt in 2009.

The unsuccessful finalists will get 10-thousand dollars to buy equipment for their minor hockey programs.

Saskatchewan is still looking for its first grand champion.