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Calgarian claims top prize in 2019-2020 Great West Newspapers Hockey Pool

Winner takes home $3,000
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2019-2020 Great West Newspapers Hockey Pool champion Mike Beckett holds his winnings at the Cochrane Eagle on Thursday (June 4). (Chelsea Kemp/The Cochrane Eagle)

COCHRANE — With a little bit of luck and the right picks at the perfect time, Calgarian Mike Beckett claimed first place in the 2019-2020 Great West Newspapers Hockey Pool.

Beckett faced-off against 925 other participants in the free Hockey Pool taking home $3,000. A total of $7,000 was given away during the competition.

Beckett added he was especially grateful for winning the pool because it has been a bright spot during a difficult year.

He has been having major health issues — his knee and hip need to be replaced making it difficult to move and work impossible until he heals.

He was then set back further last month when a blood clot put him in an intensive care unit for four days and he was unable to stand up for fears the clot would break off from his leg.

“Once I got up and started moving around it was OK but I had to go slow,” Beckett said, explaining that he is now focused on building up his stamina and recovering from his ordeal.

“I still get winded when I do a lot of stairs,” Beckett said. “Even when I’m on the phone trying to talk to people, if it’s too long I get winded.”

The $3,000 windfall came at a great time, he said, because his sick leave unemployment runs out in two weeks.

“This will keep me going until I find another avenue,” Beckett said.

Beckett is on the mend but will need surgery for his knee and hip, he said, but each day his breathing gets a little better. He added that in three months he will see the specialist again to receive an update on the blood clot.

“I’m just happy I found that pool,” he said. “I played it religiously.”

Beckett said he only missed one Friday pick and was immediately horrified at the thought it could cost him the lead.

It turned out to be a happy accident because teams were automatically chosen for him and it went well.

“I think out of the five games I got three,” he said with a laugh. “I like the fact that if you miss they’ll pick for you — they’ll pick the most common ones that everybody is picking.”

He was tempted to let the teams be picked automatically, but his desire to win was too powerful.

“I was too close, it was a dogfight between the top three of four people,” he said.

Beckett was browsing online when he saw a link for the free Hockey Pool. An avid hockey pool player, he decided to sign up and make his picks right away.

“I’m glad I joined this one,” he said with a chuckle.

Beckett attributed his first-place finish to some good fortune with picks. His favourite choice was often to go with the underdog team in a round.

“The favourites don’t win all the time. Every once in a while you would see a team that was playing good and pick that one and it seemed to work,” Beckett said. “A couple of times I did really well with it.”

It was a tight race to the finish, he said, with the top four players locked in a fierce battle for first for the majority of the season.

Beckett knew he was in the lead when the NHL season was put on ice due to COVID-19. At the time he was in front by two points.

“I was hoping it would start again because it was a good battle between the top three, four people. We were always up and down together,” Beckett said. “I was hoping to finish the season and see where it took me and win outright.”

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