Glace Bay's 'Tickemaster' is a fundraising legend in minor hockey circles
Kenny Cunningham has put his grandson through minor hockey for free and helped so many other kids do the same.
Over the past decade, the 75-year-old Cunningham has earned himself a reputation as Glace Bay Minor Hockey's "Ticketmaster."
"Mitchell never paid a red cent for hockey," Cunningham says of his grandson. "He bought all his gear out of minor hockey money."
It all started back in 2010, when his grandson Mitchell played his first season of Timbits.
He didn't stop until his Mitchell played his final game of midget, last season.
"I sold 187,575 tickets," Cunningham said.
James Edwards is president of Glace Bay Minor Hockey and says the fact that anyone could sell nearly a fifth of a million tickets is almost hard to believe.
"That's just an amazing stat, when you think about it," Edwards said.
But that his dedication and spirit is something most Canadians could relate to.
"I'm sure there's a Kenny Cunningham in many communities across the country," Edwards said. "But as far as Glace Bay is concerned, again he's a real trailblazer."
Cunningham's ticket-selling days have come to an end now that his grandson has graduated from minor hockey.
But this weekend, the Glace Bay Association has something in the works for its first draw of the new season -- as a simple way of saying thank you.
"We're going to have an honourary person select the ticket this coming Sunday," Edwards said. "And we're going to ask Mr. Cunningham if he would be so kind as to make the draw for us."
Nearly as impressive as his ticket sales are the meticulous records Cunningham has kept in scrapbooks at home.
He's listed every week's ticket sales -- and the names of every winner.
And this weekend, he's happy to be picking a new one.
"I'm proud to sell the tickets," Cunningham said. "Because I'm so used to selling them, and handling them. I know how to handle the ticket -- and I can pick a winner. I might pick myself!"
And for now, he isn't minding his new nickname.
"I've been called worse, so I would enjoy it," Cunningham said. "I would enjoy being called 'Glace Bay's Ticketmaster.'"
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.