Powell River Kings Dream Lottery will be giving away more than $100,000 this year, and it all begins at the Kings game versus Cowichan on Friday, November 24, with a chance to win $10,000 in the lottery’s early bird draw.
The lottery is the junior hockey team’s largest fundraiser of the year and has netted more than $400,000 in operating expenses during the past five years. Due to a recent team bus breakdown, the need for fundraising is stronger than ever.
“Ticket sales are going well already this year and we are doing a concentrated push to sell as many as possible because of our bus needing to be replaced,” says Powell River Kings Hockey Club Society president Rob Villani. “We’re excited about where we are at so far, but we would really like to see this lottery sell out to offset the cost of a replacement bus.”
This year, the Kings society decided to award all cash prizes, including the $50,000 grand prize draw January 12 and the upcoming early bird prize of $10,000 (the early bird winner is re-entered into the main draw).
Each person who purchases a $100 ticket has a chance to win the jackpot, as well as prizes for second ($15,000), third ($7,500) and fourth ($3,000). Also, $20 tickets are being sold for a 50/50 draw with an estimated pot of $40,000. Currently, the 50/50 pot is already more than $10,000.
“We found that most people were more interested in cash prizes rather than a vehicle,” says Villani. “So we thought if that’s what they want, let’s give them what they want.”
Net proceeds from the lottery and other raffles are used to acquire capital assets, wages for team staff, travel expenses, equipment and ice rentals. Powell River Kings have one of the highest travel costs in the BC Hockey League due to longer travel and ferry costs.
Villani says the society’s goal is to sell all 2,499 lottery tickets and 4,000 50/50 tickets, but in order to do this it will need more community support than ever.
“The Kings society would like to give an arena-full of thank yous to the community members who have supported this draw over the years, and continue to support it,” says Villani. “Without that support, we wouldn’t be able to keep this hockey team in Powell River.”
Powell River Kings Dream Lottery Early Bird Draw
When: 7:15 pm game time, Friday, November 24
Where: Powell River Recreation Complex
Price: $100 per ticket
Info: prkingsdreamlottery.ca
