One of which is how to support the WHL Scholarship program with no games on the ice and no way to raise funds for scholastic endeavours once players have seen their time in the league come to an end.
Great Western Brewing Company and Saskatchewan’s five WHL teams -- the Moose Jaw Warriors, Regina Pats, Saskatoon Blades, Swift Current Broncos and Prince Albert Raiders -- have partnered to host the first-ever Hockey Harvest Lottery in support of WHL player scholarships.
The event will feature an online progressive 50/50 draw beginning Monday, Nov. 16 through Sunday, Dec. 20. The grand-prize winning ticket will receive half of the funds, with the remainder split evenly among the five WHL teams in the province.
Thanks to Great Western brewing, the jackpot will begin at $75,000.
Last year, the Moose Jaw Warriors spent $98,501.43 on player scholarships to post-secondary institutions all over Canada and the United States. The Warriors education fund balance currently sits at $154,167.92.
Without the annual alumni golf tournament this past summer and current game-day events to replenish that fund, one can see where there may be concern.
“The Western Hockey League takes pride in providing a world-class player experience, which includes the most comprehensive scholarship available in North America today,” commented WHL Commissioner Ron Robison. “What better way for our Saskatchewan-based WHL Clubs to come together than with the creation of the ‘Hockey Harvest Lottery presented by Great Western Brewing Company’ in support of the WHL Scholarship program. By purchasing tickets, Saskatchewan residents will have a chance to win big, and they will also be supporting the academic endeavors of their favourite WHL players.”
Ticket prices are as follows:
- 1 ticket for $20
- 5 tickets for $50
- 20 tickets for $100
- 150 tickets for $500
- 500 tickets for $1000
Tickets are available for purchase to anyone over the age of 19 that is physically in the province of Saskatchewan at the time of purchase, regardless of their home residence. Ticket sales for the Hockey Harvest Lottery close on Sunday, Dec. 20 at 11:59 p.m., with the Grand Prize draw taking place on Monday, Dec. 21 at 1p.m. iin Saskatoon.
Tickets purchased prior to 11:59 p.m. CST on Friday, Nov. 27 will also be entered in a draw to win a Saskatchewan WHL team jersey prize package, featuring a jersey from all five of the province’s WHL teams. The early bird draw will be made on Saturday, Nov. at 1 p.m. CST in Saskatoon.
Key dates for the Hockey Harvest Lottery presented by Great Western Brewing Co. include:
- November 16th: Ticket sales launch at 12:01 a.m. CST
- November 27th: Early-bird deadline
- November 28th: Early-bird draw at 1:00 p.m. CST
- December 20th: Ticket deadline at 11:59 p.m. CST
- December 21st: Ticket draw at 1:00 p.m. CST
Tickets will be available for sale beginning Monday, Nov. 16 online through each team’s website, along with WHL.ca.
Hockey Harvest Lottery rules and regulations can be found at www.whl.ca/hockeyharvestlotto. Daily jackpot updates and Hockey Harvest Lottery news will be available daily on Twitter at @HockeyHarvest.
