He's 5'10" and 195 lbs., shoots left and has honed his wrist shot playing recreation hockey for the past eight years. Now, the only thing separating 56-year-old electrician Rick Abbott of Quesnel, B.C. from a cool million dollars on New Year's Eve is scoring 15 goals in 24 seconds as this year's participant in TSN's third annual, international award-winning million-dollar giveaway, the Chevrolet Traverse Million Dollar Shootout.
As part of the contest, Rick will also have the chance to win up to four new Chevrolet Traverse Crossovers for himself, his two shooters, and a randomly selected World Juniors tournament attendee.
The event will air live nationally in High Definition on TSN HD on New Year's Eve (Wednesday, December 31) during the first intermission of the IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP broadcast featuring Canada vs. USA (game starts at 7:30pm et).
Rick, an electrician at Quesnel River Pulp, a division of West Fraser Mills in Quesnel, was randomly chosen from nearly eight million total online entries. In Rick's first year entering the Chevrolet Traverse Million Dollar Shootout contest, he gathered 579 entries over the course of the promotion.
"I couldn't believe it at first but now I can't wait to get on the ice in Ottawa and take my best shot at the grand prize," said Rick. "I'm really excited to share this wonderful opportunity with my family and friends over the holidays."
During the first intermission, Rick and his two shooters - his son Derek Abbott, 21, and longtime family friend Owen Kirby, 23 - will head to centre ice, where they will each have 15 seconds to shoot 10 pucks at an open net (30 pucks in total). Depending on the number of total goals scored as a group, prizes will be awarded as follows:
* 5-9 goals - Rick wins a new Chevrolet Traverse Crossover
* 10-14 goals - Rick, Derek and Owen win a new Chevrolet Traverse Crossover
* 15 goals or more - Rick, Derek, Owen and one randomly chosen World Juniors tournament attendee all win a new Chevrolet Traverse Crossover, for a total of four vehicles given away
Immediately following the group shots at centre ice, Rick will move back to the far blue line where he will have 24 seconds to shoot 20 pucks into an open net. If Rick scores 15 or more goals within the allotted time, he will win $1 million in a one-time payout.
One day prior to the shootout, Rick, Derek and Owen will practice at Scotiabank Place on December 30 at 7 am et.
A native of Atikokan, ON, Rick currently lives in Quesnel, B.C., located approximately 1.5 hours south of Prince George. He is an eight-year veteran of his local recreation hockey league and is a fan of the Vancouver Canucks. He also enjoys golf and lists Tiger Woods as his favourite athlete. He lives in Quesnel with his wife, Kay, and they have three grown children and a newborn grandson.
In less than a week of practicing for the event, Rick's best results were eight goals from centre ice and 15 and 16 goals from the far blue line. Both attempts from the far blue line would be enough for him to take home the $1 million, should he score 15 goals or more on December 31.
TSN and Chevrolet are supporting the Chevrolet Traverse Million Dollar Shootout with a multi-platform promotional strategy, featuring 30-second promotion spots airing on TSN and TSN2, along with a targeted PR/marketing campaign, online creative and in-game mentions during all hockey broadcasts on TSN. In 2006, the inaugural Chevy Silverado Million Dollar Shootout promotion won a hat trick of accolades: a PROMAX North American Gold for Consumer Promotion, a Media Innovation Certificate and an international Diamond Award for Best Event Marketing Campaign.
In the last event, 35-year-old sawyer Darwin Head of Prince Albert, SK, became an overnight sensation when he won it all during the Chevrolet Malibu Million Dollar Shootout, netting four Chevrolet Malibu Hybrids and $1 million live on TSN in February 2008.