CONGRATULATIONS Allan Anderson!

As the grand prize winner, Allan & 19 lucky friends, family and members of his church floor hockey team got to see our Jets triumph over Boston on February 17, 2012 from one of the best suites in the house—complete with a $2000 tab!

“I’ve been a Jets fan all my life,” said Allan, a Corporal with the Transport, Electrical Mechanical Engineers (TEME) squadron at 17 Wing CFB Winnipeg. “I was just dropping off flowers for my daughter for Valentine’s Day when I got the call saying I’d won…I was shaking.”

It was his very first game since the Jets’ return to Winnipeg but not his first time supporting United Way. Allan has organized the TEME squadron United Way breakfast for the past four years, raising close to $2000 for our community in 2010 alone. Congratulations Allan!

Congratulations also to our runners-up, each of whom received two premium tickets to select Jets home games:

Mitch Marcoux Colorado Avalanche (February 19)

Mitch was actually at a Jets game when he got the call saying he’d won. A sponge hockey player in a playoff race of his own, he wasn’t able to use the tickets himself. But not everyone was sad about that – especially not Mitch’s two sons who went in his place!

Mike Teillet Colorado Avalanche (February 19)

“I couldn’t believe it,” says Mike. “I was driving to the Jets game with my daughter when I could feel my phone buzzing in my pocket. It’s very exciting. I never win anything.”

It’s fitting his daughter was there for the big moment. Since Mike was in Vegas, she got the tickets. It was her second game but her first time in a suite. Now that’s sweet!

Andrew Saramaga Colorado Avalanche (February 19)

Like most Winnipeggers, Andrew Saramaga was really hoping to score Jets season tickets last year. “I wasn’t lucky enough to get in on a set.” But he was lucky enough to win this set. “I heard about the raffle on the radio and told my wife to buy three tickets. And since she’s the one who did all the work, he says, she’ll also be the one to accompany him to the game.”

Carey Baldwin Tampa Bay Lightning (February 23)

Carey Baldwin and his wife are looking forward to using their winning tickets for a night out. “We just had our second child in January and haven’t been able to get out much. This will be the first time. I think my wife’s more excited than me.” It will also be the couple’s first Jets game. They bought seven raffle tickets. “It’s a good cause.”

Dan Wuerch Tampa Bay Lightning (February 23)

Dan may have missed out on the opportunity to increase his odds by joining co-workers in a ticket pool, but it all worked out in the end. “It’s kind of funny, 10 of them got nothing and I bought one ticket and I won!”

Lori Duke Edmonton Oilers (February 27)

This will be Lori Duke’s first Jets game ever and she’s super excited! “I was screaming when I got the call saying I’d won.” She’ll be taking boyfriend Sebastian who’s only been to one game himself since the Jets’ return.

Walter Ordonez Florida Panthers (March 1)

After reading about the raffle in a newspaper ad during the course of his job at the Free Press, Walter headed straight to United Way’s office on Main Street and bought two tickets.

Not particularly lucky as a rule, he was somewhat sceptical upon hearing he’d won: “I thought you guys were actually lying when you called,” he laughed.

Chris Burch Florida Panthers (March 1)
It’s not for lack of trying that Chris Burch and her husband haven’t been to a Jets game yet. “We were on the computer last year trying to get tickets like everyone else, but no luck.”

And while their luck appears to have changed, the couple aren’t pinning their hopes on taking home the 50/50 pot – one of Chris’s co-workers already did that at her first Jets game, winning something like $41,000. “We’ll never win the 50/50 if someone at work has already won it.”

Wanda Trent Florida Panthers (March 1)

Wanda and her boyfriend Gary have only been to one Jets game this season and they had to fly all the way to Phoenix to see it. “We couldn’t afford to see them here for the opening game so we flew down to Glendale where my dad just bought a trailer.”

The day before collecting their winning tickets, the couple was at MTS Centre to see Deep Purple and used the opportunity to check out the view from their seats. “It’ll be great,” said Wanda – especially for Gary: “He’s a huge fan. He got every single Jets thing for Christmas.”

Andrea Sherry Buffalo Sabres (March 5)

Andrea tried to get Jets tickets for her son Ian’s ninth birthday in January. “I couldn’t get them and no one who had season tickets wanted to give them up. He will be thrilled!”

It’ll be the first Jets game for the young hockey player. “He has two Jets jerseys – he’s right into it.” Sherry bought her winning raffle ticket from a co-worker at Wawanesa. “I don’t normally win things so I’m pretty happy.”

Steve Besant Buffalo Sabres (March 5)

In December, Steve Besant had an opportunity to see his first Jets game in 20 years. “It was a real treat – just as loud as I remembered.” He extended the same opportunity to a loyal customer and good friend by generously gifting his winning tickets.

Marjorie Matsyk Buffalo Sabres (March 5)

“Thanks very much for having the draw,” says Marjorie Matsyk. “Do it again next year.” Marjorie and three others went in as a group and bought four tickets in hopes of sharing the grand prize. With the exception of one, the same group also shares a pair of season tickets. Though Marjorie won’t be the one using the winning tickets, she’s very excited for her friend.

Robin Grant Dallas Stars (March 14)

Robin Grant bought his tickets at St. Vital Centre. He’ll be taking his daughter who’s almost 11. “She likes hockey. I used to take her to the odd Moose game when she was younger, but she was more interested in looking at the people around her. Now it’s more about the game.” It was his daughter who broke the news by calling him at work. “She asked if I had anyone in mind for the other ticket,” he chuckles.

Fred Enns Dallas Stars (March 14)

Fred Enns has never been to a Jets game but watches every game faithfully on television, which is how he first came to hear of the raffle. His daughter suggested he go online and purchase tickets. For the good advice, she will be Fred’s “plus one.”

Greg Catteeuw Carolina Hurricanes (March 18)

“I’ve been to two games. My oldest son has seats with a group way up in P7, which is too high for me. And a buddy has seats in P4. That was much nicer. But these will be nicer yet!”

As it turns out, Greg Catteeuw won’t be the one sitting there. “I’ve got two sons who live in Winnipeg and they both want to go, so I think the democratic thing to do would be to give them the tickets.”

Apart from being an extremely generous dad, he’s also a fan of United Way. “Even if I didn’t win, it felt good knowing I was still supporting a great cause.”

Visit sweetseats.ca for prize details

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