Two big lotto winners in the north

RECENT WINNERS: Sault father and a Sudbury couple A Sault father has earned $250,000 and a Sudbury couple is collecting $100,000 after winning top prizes on holiday themed instant tickets.

The day after a single winning ticket was drawn for a $70 million Lotto Max draw, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has announced two ‘smaller’ big wins in northern Ontario – a Sault father has won $250,000 and a Sudbury-area couple won $100,000 on holiday instant scratch tickets.

SAULT FATHER

Steve Mazzuca, a 47-year-old husband, father and occasional lottery player from Sault Ste. Marie has won the top prize on an Instant Holiday Riches (Game #2390) scratch ticket, earning $250,000.

Mazzuca who works in healthcare told OLG representatives while in Toronto, at the prize centre, picking up his winning that getting ready to host his family for Christmas dinner when he discovered his win.

“This ticket was a gift my wife tucked in my Christmas stocking,” he said in a news release Wednesday.

“When the turkey was in the oven, I took a quiet moment to play my ticket. I saw I won and was shocked.”

Mazzuca told prize officials he kept repeating, “This is impossible.”

His wife scanned the ticket using the OLG app.

Mazzuca said he plans to use this money to help his kids with their education and save the rest for their future.

“I looked at my kids and felt so good knowing this will give them everything they need to pursue their education,” he said, talking about the moment after the ticket was scanned.

Mazzuca said the outpouring of support from friends, family and community has been incredibly humbling.

“I give a lot to my community, and it means a lot to have their support and encouragement,” he said.

“It’s unbelievable and surreal.”

The winning ticket was purchased at Rexall on Second Line in Sault Ste. Marie.

GARSON COUPLE

Scott Arnold and Kyla Henry, a couple from the Greater Sudbury community of Garson who say they have played the lottery occasionally since they were of age have won $100,000 – the top prize on an Instant Gift Pack ticket (Game #1930).

“This was a gift from my aunt,” Arnold said at the prize centre.

“Usually my wife plays the tickets, but she told me to go ahead and play it this time because she never has any luck.”

Arnold told officials he uncovered the selections and noticed the last two numbers matched.

“I instantly told myself I must have done something wrong,” he said.

“When I realized I indeed won, I ran upstairs to tell my wife.”

Henry said she was in the washroom when her husband barged in and shouted, “We won.”

“I didn’t believe him at first, then checked the ticket using the OLG app and it said ‘big winner,’” she said.

“We were both screaming with joy.”

The pair said they plan to purchase a new car, take a trip to celebrate their five-year anniversary and will share some with the aunt who gifted them the ticket.

“I’m just shaking thinking about this,” said Arnold.

“I’m still in disbelief.”

The winning ticket was purchased at J&T Enterprises on Lasalle Boulevard in Sudbury.

In November, a northern Ontario woman also won a $250,000 grand prize on a Crossword Deluxe ticket.

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