Rider fan with young family wins huge 50/50 jackpot

“We’re still a little bit in awe to be honest,” said Darren Schnell.

Schnell was the lucky 50/50 winner in Saturday’s home opener Saskatchewan Roughrider game.

Originally form Estevan, Sask. he came to Regina with his wife and kid from Airdrie, Alta. to be with family over the Canada day long weekend. Schnell said he didn’t have plans to go to the Rider game.

“I was there with my sister, her boyfriend and my niece and her boyfriend,” he said. “It was actually supposed to be my nephew and his girlfriend’s ticket, they backed out and I took the ticket, went down to watch the game and low and behold come home with some money.”

The massive jackpot started at $100,000 which was hosted by the Regina Rams football team. It eventually rose to $554,000 by the end of the game and Darren walked away with $277,000.

He added he didn’t check the ticket until after midnight.

“I never checked the ticket until about 1 a.m. that night,” he said. “There wasn’t much sleep after that, that’s for sure.”

Darren was out with friends celebrating Canada day and said once he did check the ticket, and found out he won, he tried to Facetime his wife, Laura. He said she hung up on him twice!

“I was sure it was just a fun escapades from the night,” Laura said.

She said she got multiple messages afterwards and eventually turned her phone ringer off.

“I’m at home with our 2-year-old and I’m almost seven months pregnant, so I’m like, do they know that I’m trying to sleep?” she said with laughter.

Both Schnell and his wife said they don’t have any big splurges planned rather that they’ll be paying off debt.

“We’re just in the process of buying an acreage … we don’t have any vacation plans or any huge splurges other than just making things more just a little more comfortable lifestyle wise.”

They’ve since traveled back home to Alberta and said the phone has been ringing off the hook from family and friends congratulating them.