One lucky Maritimer walked away with more than $100,000 Sunday, after the Glace Bay Minor Hockey Association held their 50/50 draw.

James Edwards has been the minor hockey president in Glace Bay for eight years. He has seen the draw grow each year.

“It’s unbelievable. It has taken on a life of its own,” says Edwards. “Everywhere I go and everywhere people from the minor community, it’s the talk of the town.”

Nearly 300,000 tickets were sold in this year’s draw, a record amount.

If the draw continues to grow, the minor hockey association will have to consider getting a bigger drum, as the one they currently use was barely able to hold the amount of tickets sold.

“This is a new drum we just had built two years ago,” says Edwards. “So we have a nice dilemma right, to decide whether we need to go out and get a bigger drum. The way the draw has taken off, it's the talk of the community.”

The 50/50 tickets have become so popular that they are being sold across Cape Breton Island. Last year’s winner received a prize of over $90,000.

This year’s winner, Frank Pickup, took home the largest prize yet, winning almost $145,000.

“She told me the amount and I can't remember what I said,” says Pickup.

Pickup says he's been asked many times about the number of tickets he purchased.

“I wasn't even thinking about the big prize. I said ‘just get me five tickets.’ I probably would have got ten, that's the way she goes.”

The news of his win spread quickly through his hometown of Dominion, N.S.

“It's just like winning an Oscar I guess, but you can put this stuff in your pocket, the Oscar you need to put on the mantle. I'm just a simple guy, we'll enjoy it,” says Pickup.

A simple guy, who many say is well deserving of the prize.

“Everybody I've spoken to said it couldn't of happen to a better guy,” says Edwards.

Pickup says he already knows what he will do with the money. He says he's waited 44 years to see his favorite team hit the ice.

“I'm going to get tickets and go see the Boston Bruins this winter and this summer, go see my Boston Redsox.”

Money generated from the 50/50 ticket sales will allow players to hit the ice for free, covering the cost of registration, coaching, and in many cases, equipment.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Kyle Moore