Winning Ontario community to host NHL pre-season game between the New York Islanders and the Atlanta Thrashers

Toronto, Ontario (March 17, 2007) - The buzzer has sounded on the country’s most spirited competition, and North Bay, Ontario has been crowned Kraft Hockeyville 2007. Cameras captured the communities’ excitement and enthusiasm live as host Ron McLean revealed the winning community on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada.

In addition to the coveted Kraft Hockeyville 2007 title and the trophy, North Bay, Ontario wins the once-in-a-lifetime prize of hosting a NHL pre-season game between the New York Islanders and the Atlanta Thrashers on September 17, 2007. North Bay will also receive $50,000 to be used for upgrades to the publicly-owned arena that the winning community endorses.

To win the bragging rights of being named Kraft Hockeyville 2007, communities from across Canada developed a video up to three minutes in length to showcase their hockey passion and community spirit. The communities were narrowed down over the last three weeks as Canadians voted to crown this year’s champion. Over the last week, more than 935,000 votes were cast by Canadians for the top five final communities vying for a chance to be named Canada’s most passionate hockey community.

North Bay’s commitment to community and hockey underlies everything they do. The community reached out to displaced Hurricane Katrina children by asking them to join their annual pond hockey tournament. North Bay embraced the unique initiative as sponsors paid for their flights, accommodations and meals during the three-day trip.

North Bay, Ontario will be featured in a CBC Television special to air in the fall so stay tuned for details!

For media inquiries, please contact :
Mandy Plaizier
416.366.7735 ext. 254
mplaizier@strategicobjectives.com

Dave Keon
National Hockey League
416-981-2762
dkeon@nhl.com

Jonathan Weatherdon
NHL Players’ Association
416-313-2316
jweatherdon@nhlpa.com

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Kraft Foods (NYSE:KFT) is one of the world's largest food and beverage companies. For more than 100 years, we've offered consumers delicious and wholesome foods that fit the way they live. Millions of times a day, in more than 150 countries, consumers reach for their favorite Kraft brands. Whether it's breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack, consumers at home and on the go choose: Kraft cheeses, dinners and dressings; Oscar Mayer meats, DiGiorno pizzas, Oreo cookies, Ritz crackers and chips, Philadelphia cream cheese, Milka and Cote d'Or chocolates, Planters nuts, Honey Bunches of Oats cereals, Jacobs, Gevalia and MaxwellHouse coffees; Capri Sun, Crystal Light and Tang refreshment beverages; and a growing range of South Beach Diet and better-for-you Sensible Solution options.

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