West Kelowna

Jim Williamson has a chance to make history Friday night when the West Kelowna Warriors play their final regular season home game at Royal LePage Place.

Williamson will have a chance to win $250,000.

Photo: Contributed - Warriors

2012 Shoot To Win Contest

All he has to do is fire 20 pucks into an open net from the far blue line in 24 seconds.

His name was drawn from thousands of contest entries received on the Warriors Facebook page.

Adam Less, who ran the contest for the hockey club, says the initial entry list was pared down to a short list of 100 finalists.

He says that list was then sent to the insurance company underwriting the contest.

The company then generated a further short list of five names from which Williamson's name was drawn.

The other four names served as back-ups in case, for whatever reason, Williamson could not participate.

As it turned out, Williamson, who was informed he had been selected Wednesday night, didn't think he could take part.

"I was surprised and figured 'I'm three hours from West Kelowna so I wouldn't be able to make it,'" says Williamson who is house sitting in Little Fort which is north of Barriere on the Yellowhead Highway.

"He phoned back to confirm that I had turned it down and, at that point I got all my facts and figures straight and said I'd do it. I got somebody to look after the boiler and chickens so we'll go back to civilization for two days."

Williamson is a former president of Kelowna Minor Hockey and a former insurance underwriter.

He says neither will be of help Friday night.

"I don't think it will help because I did my learn to skate program with Kelowna Minor Hockey when my daughter was in tykes. Being an on ice person - not really. I was on the bench, in the stands or in the conference room."

Williamson says he will practice as much as he can between now and Friday night shooting a tennis ball in the barn in Little Fort or in his carport back in West Kelowna.

As for the prize money itself, "we can legitimately say this is the first time in the Okanagan any sport that we are aware of has offered a contest with a prize this substantial," says Less.

"It is a quarter of a million dollars and, regardless of how difficult the task might be, the reality is if Mr. Williamson scores 20 goals he will be given the cheque for $250,000."

As for nerves, Williamson says he's fine - for now.

A year ago, a fan was unsuccessful in winning $50,000 during a similar contest.

Jim Williamson will get his chance to win $250,000 during the first period intermission Friday.

Regardless of how things turn out Williamson will still receive a pair of 2013-2014 season tickets for the Warriors and a year's worth of service from event sponsor Great Canadian Oil Change.