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50/ 50 SOCIETY

clipe ANTHONY SANTOS Me, 533.00

yu 4 Winner, of the Cougars’ 50/50 draw
. PG Cougars

Brady Stark help in the aid of ALS research in the name people wanting to buy their tickets as over
Team Member of his late mother: Shelly L Mrkonjic. 5,000 fans filled the arena. Once in the
CN Centre, people could hardly move as
n 2006, Tyler Mrkonjic lost his hockey On a night where the Cougars were fighting everyone was lined on to get their 50/50
mom to a terrible disease known as ALS. for their playoff lives, hockey took a backseat __ tickets during the 1st and 2nd intermissions.
ALS (Amyotropic lateral sclerosis) isa disease to the noteworthy cause. Cougars’ owner

that systematically shuts down neurological
functions throughout the body until the
person eventually stops breathing.

Ever the fighter, Mrkonjic took the passion
that he got from his mother to propel him
to an elite level in the sport that his family
loves. Currently in his second year with
the Prince George Cougars, Mrkonjic has
made himself a home with the team and
has been a fan favorite since he stepped
on the ice. On March 7, it was the Cougars’
turn to fight with Mrkonjic against a battle
his family has been waging for nine years.
The Mrkonjic family set up a charity to

and President Greg Pocock came up with the _— During the game, the Cougars would put

idea of making the earnings from the 50/50
draw go straight into the charity instead
of usually going to support minor hockey
in P.G. In any given 50/50 draw throughout
the year, the pot would grow to an average
of $4,000. To make sure that the Mrkonjic
family knew that they were going to be

supported in their cause, Mr. Pocock donated

$25,000 to get the ball rolling. Stirring an

immediate frenzy since announcing the boost

in 50/50 sales, people came in droves to see
the Cougars take on the Victoria Royals and
support a hometown cause. The Cougars
organization braced for the onslaught of

up the 50/50 amount on the jumbotron,

and as fans watched the amount went sky
high. By the end of the second period, the
50/50 officials had to stop sales because the
machines were being over-worked. The final

amount for the draw was $67,066, a franchise

record. On a night where the Cougars stole
a point from the Royals,

Shelly. L. Mrkonjic stole the

hearts of a great town, as

her charity was the real

winner in a fight that

keeps her wonderful

memory going.