After more than 40 weeks of "Chase the Ace," the Niverville Nighthawks have crowned the winner of nearly $50,000.
The fundraiser for the local hockey team has been held Monday nights at Smitty’s in Niverville, inviting participants to test their luck drawing the right card for a chance at a weekly cash prize—or the jackpot.
That jackpot was finally claimed on July 28, when Joe Strebley of Winnipeg took home $46,483 plus $3,330 in weekly winnings.
Ray Dowse, vice president of the Nighthawks, says Smitty's was packed out for the event.
"The patio was full, the bar was full, the restaurant was full. They were actually turning people away at the door from the capacity side of things," he says.
Strebley purchased his ticket online, Dowse says, noting the winner is good friends with someone who came to Smitty's for "Chase the Ace" every week.
"He was so excited over the phone. You could hear (him and his wife) cheering in the background," Dowse reminisces.
He says an increasing number of people bought tickets from various regions each week, with most from Niverville and the southeast.
But, as the pot grew, the word spread.
"It's amazing to see the reach the event actually had," Dowse says. "We're so incredibly appreciative of people who showed up every week...the Nighthawks are just not possible without the support of residents and the business community."
"We really got this sense of community from running this event, so it was really positive," he says.
Funds raised through "Chase the Ace" will be used for day-to-day operations and infrastructure improvements at the Nighthawks' facility, he says.
"There's definitely a number of costs and improvements that we're looking at, and so every dollar that we earn from 'Chase the Ace' we have a place for, for sure."
Given the success of the fundraiser, Dowse says there is some consideration being given to a third round of "Chase the Ace."
He says there's lots to look forward to in the season, with camp starting in mid-August and a kickoff event hovering around the Nighthawks' first home game.
Written with files from Adi Loewen