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By Chris Brown

Online 50/50 draw for teams

WHL, AJHL look to score with Jackpots for Junior Hockey

Feb 22, 2021 | 12:20 PM

The Alberta government, the Western Hockey League and the Alberta Junior Hockey League are linemates in a new initiative to boost funds for those leagues’ teams in the province.

Jackpots for Junior Hockey was launched today.

“With teams in communities right across the province, adult Albertans will help light the financial lamp for their favourite team,” says Leela Sharon Aheer, minister of culture, multiculturalism and status of women.

“This is very, very dependent upon Albertan, all of us going out there and buying our tickets and supporting these teams that we love.”

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The two leagues worked closely with Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis to get the program launched.

The WHL announced approval of its Alberta return-to-play plan in late January, while the AJHL received approval last week.

Fans won’t be in attendance at any of the games.

WHL commissioner Ron Robinson teams rely almost entirely on ticket sales and sponsorships to survive and eams not viable without fans in attendance.

He adds the program is critical to ensuring junior hockey teams in Alberta can continue to operate.

“When you consider that we’re a fan-dependent league with over 90 per cent of the revenues coming from ticket sales and local sponsorship you can understand where all the expenses now are borne by the ownership of those teams may be in very difficult positions to begin with and when you add this on top it’s a very difficult positon ot obviously recover from.”

Albertans are able to purchase tickets online for any team’s 50/50 draw from anywhere in the province.

The Jackpots For Junior Hockey 50/50 will run each weekend in March.

A portion of each team’s proceeds will be shared with local charities.

The Saskatchewan government announced $4 million in support for that province’s WHL teams ($3 million total) and SJHL teams ($1 million)