The Beardy’s Okemasis First Nation is a step closer to hosting an NHL pre-season game.

Duck Lake has made the Top 15 in the Kraft Hockeyville competition, and is up against Rosthern and Teulon, Manitoba in the running to become the West region nominee in the contest.

The five finalists will be announced on March 17th, and will be profiled on CBC’s “Hockey Night in Canada” on March 31st, before the winner is announced on live TV that night.

The winner receives $100,000 in upgrades to their arena, as well as a pre-season NHL exhibition game.

If Duck Lake wins, the game will be played at the Willow Cree Memorial Sports Centre on the Beardy’s Okemasis reserve.

Beardy’s councillor Kurt Seesequasis says the whole community is excited about the contest, and they are working feverishly to get as many online votes as they can.

Seeseequasis also feels their campaign should get the First Nations vote.

The deadline to vote for Beardy’s or any of the other nominees is Tuesday night at 11:00 p.m.