The Niverville Nighthawks’ “Chase the Ace” is gaining serious momentum and excitement, as the weekly pot continues to grow, both in participation and jackpot size. What started back in September had a surprising twist just a few weeks in.
"Yeah, so back in week 3, even though we had 54 cards left, someone pulled the Ace of Spades and walked away with over $4,000,” said Ray Dowse, Vice President of the Niverville Nighthawks. “So, we had to restart it.”
Fast forward to this week’s draw, and there are now only 25 cards remaining, and the Ace of Spades is still in the mix. That’s kept the energy high, both in person and online.
Jackpot Nearing $18,000
“The jackpot is roughly $15,300 right now, but that doesn’t include this week’s ticket sales,” said Dowse. “By Monday, we expect it to hit somewhere around $17,000 to $18,000. That’s just a rough guess based on past trends, but it’s getting substantial.”
And with numbers like that, it’s no surprise more people are jumping on board.
Online Sales Skyrocketing
While the draw is held Live every Monday night at Smitty’s in Niverville, where it started as a lively in-person event, the online side is now surging.
“The first 15 weeks, most tickets were sold in-house during the event,” Dowse explained. “But recently, especially last week, our online sales went through the roof.”
He added, “We believe it's because you don’t have to be at Smitty’s to win. If you are not in the restaurant, we will call the winner when the draw is made at 8:30 p.m., and as long as you answer your phone within five minutes, you can still choose a card remotely.”
You can also catch the draw Live on Facebook starting at 8:20 p.m., which includes the lead-up, the call, and the card reveal.
Who's Playing?
Most of the ticket purchases are still coming from Niverville and surrounding communities, but that’s starting to change.
“It’s growing,” Dowse said. “People are realizing they can be in Steinbach, Ste. Anne, or Lorette, and still be part of the action. It’s accessible now, and that’s part of the fun.”
Prizes Beyond the Jackpot
Even if the Ace of Spades isn’t picked, each weekly winner still gets 20% of that week’s sales. Last week, that was $736.
“We’ve also got two jokers still in the deck. The first joker pulled gets $200. The second joker gets a Nighthawks custom-wrapped beer fridge,” Dowse said. “And that’s thanks to our sponsor, Wiens Furniture.”
Plus, the weekly prize pot keeps growing. “Every single week, it’s gone up. We expect the same this Monday.”
Tickets Available Now
Tickets for the next draw are already available, both online and in person at Smitty’s. Sales close at 8:15 p.m. on Monday, with the draw shortly after.
“Everything is done through a lottery software system. It’s all digital,” Dowse said. “Similar to the 50/50 draw at a Jets game, the winner is picked at random from all ticket entries.”
Supporting the Nighthawks
All proceeds go back to the Niverville Nighthawks, a nonprofit organization, working to improve the Niverville CRRC for their team and continue building up the community.
“We’ve already invested about three-quarters of a million into the arena, and we’re not done yet,” Dowse said. “Every dollar helps with operations and improvements. So when people support ‘Chase the Ace,’ they’re really investing back into Niverville.”
Big Thanks and a Bigger Night Ahead
Dowse gave a shout-out to the sponsors and volunteers who make each Monday night a success.
“Smitty’s has been awesome, great host, great staff. Torque Brewing, our beer sponsor, has even created a branded beer for us. We’ve got gift cards, giveaways, and a full event atmosphere.”
He added, “It’s all about community. And we’re thankful for everyone who’s bought a ticket so far. If you haven’t yet, now’s a good time. The pot’s looking pretty good.”
Will the Ace of Spades be drawn this Monday? Tune in on May 12, 2025 at 8:30 p.m. or grab your ticket at Niverville Nighthawks' Website for your chance to win.