June 20,2023
Game #2 of the NHL Playoffs
I brought thee friends with me on the most exhilarating trip of a lifetime that I had won from Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes and the NHL. I entered it online once and just by fluke won the grand prize: a trip for winner and 3 friends, round trip airfare(economy) accommodations for 2 nights and 3 days (destination dependent of outcome of the last 2 teams left) and a
$200 Visa gift card to use as I wish.
When Stacey Allen from CF&R Services called me, I did not answer the first time because I do not answer numbers I don’t recognize. She than emailed me right after leaving a voicemail and I always check my emails. Her email stated that I had won the grand prize valued at $10,000 for a trip to a Stanley Cup final game! I had 48 hours to fill out the form and send it back to claim my prize, I printed it out and brought it home to show my husband. He said “fill it out send it back it doesn’t ask you for any money or card info what’s the worst that could happen? It is real?? Ha ha…”
I sent it back in the time frame asked, we than spoke on the phone and she gave me the low down of scenarios when we would be down to two teams. It almost looked like Florida would come back but, in the end, it was Vegas. That night when Florida was knocked out, Stacey had earlier met with the NHL that afternoon, to determine which game was decided that I would attend she emailed that it would be game #2 in Vegas. In disbelief still I told her I won’t be it until I have an itinerary in my hand. While awaiting the itinerary I chose my 3 peeps that deserved this as much as me. My husband was my first choice, in turn I told him he could take a +1 and I would take a +1. He chose his sister Denise, and I chose my best friend Sierra, both die hard hockey fans too. I received the itinerary in time for us to take with us because all had to go to Victoria to get passports and had three days to do this, we got it done in two days (the most stressful two days) Two of the passports needed a notary to sign off because they had no guarantor, they had no friends who lived in Victoria. Passport office said we could go into any notary office and do a walk in appt no problem, ya right NOT! We tried 3 different ones with no luck, I googled notary and first one that popped up was a walk in one and she took us in at 8am next morning with a hope to be back at passport office by opening at 830am (but we got to office at 930) passport office all knew who we were and that they were emergency passport requests so we got the other two done and all four would be done at same time by noon!! The passport office referred to us as the Stanley Cup family and they all wished us well as we left.
Once I let her know we were good to travel she said I would be receiving confirmation of our accommodations which included two nights and three days in Vegas. We were informed it would be one room in the Aria Casino Resort and Spa right on the strip. Still in disbelief we made the necessary arrangements to be able to travel (work, kids, school, pets, money) we hit the road Sunday morning June 4/23 so we could fly out that afternoon. I checked us in online and that’s when I knew it was real and that this was happening, even after Stacey kept saying Mrs. Hanson this is really happening! When we went through passport security it was as real as it was going to get. Boarding the flight, during the flight I could have just cried happy tears because this doesn’t happen to someone like me, and no one ever wins those contests. None of us were world travelers so finding our way around at Vegas airport we did so well, I was proud of us. Taking a taxi to the resort our cab driver was very friendly and informative of the city and our endeavors. After arriving at our resort (our mouths and jaws wide open in awe) we were so excited to be right in the middle of the strip. Our resort was beautiful and so was our room, but everything very expensive. Our bar fully stocked but I told my comrades we weren’t touching it (a 1L of Fiji water $25 American dollars!!)
We dropped our suitcases and hit the strip right away and get in as much as we could in our short time there. We were up that day 23 hours and pooped out the next day but up and at them early the next day. By this time, I had the most exciting news from our contact in Vegas, Graeme, that they had a surprise for me, a special gift that wasn’t mentioned before. I was going to get 15 minutes with the Stanley Cup!!!!!! I could not freaking believe it, who would have thought. While waiting for our time with the Cup I received our game tickets on the app, checked our seats virtually and they were excellent seats with a spectacular view (straight up behind the goalie). Our time with the cup was the most memorable amazing moment of my life, and I couldn’t be happier that my husband, sister-in-law and best friend were a part of this with me. I met the Cup, touched it, cried, read it, took a million pictures and kissed it (lips almost touched it, scared of germs) I met Mike who travels with it 300 days a year, asked him any and all questions I wanted. How many people can say they got to see and touch the Stanley Cup. I wish I wore my Carey Price jersey and took pics but didn’t think of it until it was too late. My husband wore his Chief's jersey (from Slapshot movie, Hanson brothers) #18 with Hanson on back and took pics with the Cup. After our viewing and exhilarating moment with the Stanley Cup we had to make our way to T-Mobile Arena to attend our game. After arriving we purchased jerseys, pom pom and the big gold necklace and rushed to our awesome seats which had our playoff towels hanging on them. We than got to witness and enjoy their opening and entrance of players, the vibe and energy in that building and on the way to the arena is something else and something very unforgettable. Walking on clouds after the game we went and visited a few more sites we had on our list of to do. We had a late dinner and then played some slots in our resort, three out of four of us won money ha ha…
I couldn’t be more thankful for everything that transpired upon winning this amazing unforgettable prize, Kellogg’s and the NHL made an unbelievable dream come true, now if I could meet Carey Price I could die tomorrow the happiest person on earth.
The contests are real, and they have real winners I’m living proof!!
Comments