WATCH: Two Vancouver Island men are a lot richer today after picking up a huge cheque at the British Columbia Lottery Corporation offices in Richmond. The lifelong friends from Nanaimo and Port Alberni have been playing the lottery together for over 30 years and this week, a single ticket purchased at a Nanaimo convenience store was the one that will change their lives forever. Dean Stoltz reports.
Two men from Vancouver Island who grew up playing hockey together have been revealed as the winners of the $19.8-million Lotto 6/49 jackpot.
John Pripich from Port Alberni and David Dubbin from Nanaimo have been buying lottery tickets together for more than 30 years and finally got lucky with a ticket that was bought at the 7-Eleven on Bowen Road in Nanaimo for the Nov. 28 draw.
John Prpich and David Dubbin celebrate after winning the $19.8 Lotto 6/49 jackpot. (BCLC)
The friends said they are still in disbelief that their ticket to win the top prize.
“I was in the bathroom and my wife was on the computer and said someone in Nanaimo won,” Dubbin said.
He then checked his and Prpich’s ticket and it matched all six numbers in the draw.
“I looked at my wife and asked if I was dreaming,” Dubbin said.
Dubbin quickly called Prpich and though there was no way he would believe what happened.
“At first I was like…it’s 5:30 in the morning! And then all I thought was ‘what an honest friend,’” Prpich said.
“I was just glad to tell my kids. Now my kids are going to be okay.”
The two men are thinking of using the money for new houses, cars and travel. Dubbin, an avid golfer, said he always wanted to go to Thailand.
“I hear the golf courses there are fantastic. And now we can fly first class,” Dubbin said.
Prpich said his wife also loves to travel and he would love to visit Australia again.
Dubbin plans to retire in January and Prpich said he might go to work a few times for bragging rights before he calls it quits.
(BCLC)[/caption]
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