In western Pennsylvania, locals and hockey fans alike beamed with pride, enthusiasm and optimism on Tuesday.

And it was all because of Kraft Hockeyville USA.

The city of Johnstown has endured its share of struggles over the past decades – the collapse of the steel industry, a devastating flood and ongoing brain drain – hosting a National Hockey League preseason game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Pittsburgh Penguins that was broadcast nationwide by NBC Sports Network gave members of the local community a chance to simply feel good about themselves.

“This means a helluva lot,” Tom Kovach, a Westmont resident, said.

The city won the Hockeyville title, along with $150,000 for repairs to the local Cambria County War Memorial Arena and the opportunity to hold the preseason game, by beating out nine other finalists in a voting process earlier this year. Individuals, businesses, the Johnstown Tomahawks junior hockey team and other organizations rallied together to create a region-wide get-out-the-vote message.

“Johnstown has a lot of events, but it doesn’t seem like they pull everybody together, just small groups involved in certain things,” Adam Ciner, a Jackson Township, Pennsylvania resident, said. “It’s nice to see something that brings everybody together.”

The game provided many local fans a chance to watch their favorite hockey team – the Penguins – in person.

“It’s cool to see them playing on our home rink,” Jackson Rupert, a member of the Johnstown Jets youth hockey team, said. “It’s really fun.”

Rupert and two of his teammates – Parker Lavis and Gavin Hockenberry – attended the game dressed up as the Hanson Brothers from the iconic hockey movie “Slap Shot” that was filmed in Johnstown. Lavis and Hockenberry were fired-up, too, about seeing the Penguins, who won 4-2.

“It’s exciting to see my favorite team play on the ice,” Lavis said.

Hockenberry agreed saying, “It’s exciting to see them play. My favorite player (Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin) is on the same ice that I skate on.”

But it was not only youngsters who got caught up in all the fun.

“Johnstown has such a deep, deep hockey history,” said Bill Guerin, a member of the Penguins’ Stanley Cup champion team and current player development coach. “Everybody who has played hockey knows where Johnstown is. A lot of guys have played here, and of course they know about ‘Slap Shot.’ But I’m a bit envious that I’m not out there playing. This is a great opportunity for our players. This arena is a special place in the hockey world.”

The game also served as a grand unveiling for the remodeled arena that received a half-million dollars in upgrades, including new lighting, dasher boards, safety netting, sound system and other items.

“It’s beautiful,” Toby Martin, from Johnstown, said. “The ice is fresh. The boards are new. It’s really nice.”

Some fans who could not get tickets to the contest attended viewing parties at the Frank J. Pasquerilla Conference Center and Ace’s. “I could have watched it at home, but I think I wanted to get together at the Pasquerilla and see it,” Johnstown’s Dylon Hudson said.