You can now purchase tickets for the upcoming Highway #1 Lotto 50/50 in support of the Portage Terriers and the Virden Oil Capitals!
For the last handful of years, both the Portage Terriers and the Virden Oil Capitals have been holding successful 50/50s around the same time of year. This time around, the teams got to chatting at a league meeting, and the topic of collaboration arose. Conversation continued, and both teams decided to make it bigger and better by coming together.
“This is going to be a first for both teams,” says Terrier marketing director Cody Buhler. “We've never had a guaranteed pot this big before. The last few years, both teams have had a guaranteed pot of $50,000. Now we're doubling it. We're very excited to offer a pot of this size.”
While they are competitors on the ice, off the ice both teams want nothing more than to support junior hockey. Buhler notes that this is the first time that two junior teams have come together for a fundraiser of this size and hopes for remarkable support from their respective communities.
“This 50/50 is going to be huge for both Virden and Portage,” Buhler ads. “I know some people might be thinking, well, I don't know if I want to necessarily help the competition. But we're all working together- we all want junior hockey to be successful in Manitoba. This is a big fundraiser for both teams. It definitely helps the bottom line and help keep affordable family entertainment in both of these communities.”
Buhler notes that a pot of this size, while benefiting the hockey community, can also be lifechanging for the winner.
“A guaranteed payout of at least $50,000, you can do a lot with that. Whether it’s a huge down payment on a house or buying a new vehicle or something else. This is a huge prize.”
Those wishing to participate in the draw must be over the age of 18 and be within the province of Manitoba at the time of purchase. Tickets start at just $20 each, and are available online, at all playoff games, and when the Terriers are at participating businesses in the community.
Buhler sends a warm shoutout to all their partner businesses, saying that they have been a huge support via the donation of early bird prizes, as well as guaranteeing that $100,000 pot.
Early bird prizes will be drawn Friday afternoons at 3:00 PM up until the main draw on April 25th. This is an online draw, and winners will be posted on the Terriers website.
Looking ahead, there’s always the possibility of an annual collaboration.
“Virden has been great to work with,” Buhler states. “And this partnership is something that I could see maybe even growing to include more teams if this one goes really well. But that’s something we’ll have to assess once everything wraps up.”
For more information about the Highway #1 Lotto 50/50 or to purchase tickets, visit the event website.
