Toronto, ON (October 8, 2009) – From a record 7.8 million entries, four lucky participants – two from Eastern Canada and two from Western Canada – have been randomly selected for the chance to kick for $1 million live on TSN as part of Wendy’s Kick for a Million. The two pairs of participants, ranging in age from 25 to 40 years will compete in regional quarter-final events in Toronto and Calgary on October 16 and 17, respectively, for a berth in the semifinal round of TSN’s fifth annual, international award-winning million-dollar giveaway.
The quarter-final events will take place on Friday, Oct. 16 and Saturday, Oct. 17 at Rogers Centre in Toronto and McMahon Stadium in Calgary during halftime of the Edmonton @ Toronto and Saskatchewan @ Calgary games, respectively (see contest format detail below). Highlights and results from the quarter-finals will be featured during the Argonauts and Stampeders games, with both quarter-final events also available on-demand at TSN.ca.
The entrants randomly selected to take part in the regional quarter-finals are:
Eastern Canada Participants
• Paul Sinisi of Ajax, ON – a 28-year-old Canada Post letter carrier
• Paul Conway of Stoney Creek, ON – a 40-year-old St. Marys CBM technical services field representative
Western Canada Participants
• Steven Olson of Edmonton, AB – a 25-year-old University of Alberta physics graduate student
• Murray Phillips of Calgary, AB – a 25-year-old Mount Royal University international business student
Note: See full participant bios below
Wendy’s Kick for a Million is one of TSN’s most popular fan contests ever. This year’s promotion received 7.8 million total online entries, nearly three times the number of entries received last year when the contest recorded its previous high of 2.8 million entries.
In 2005, the first year of the contest, 25-year old mechanical engineer Brian Diesbourg of Belle River, ON, became an overnight sensation by splitting the uprights from 50 yards and winning the $1-million grand prize.
The Wendy’s Kick for a Million campaign has been recognized internationally in the industry, winning Silver and Bronze accolades at the 2007 and 2008 PROMO! Awards, respectively, for Best Sponsorship or Tie-In Campaign. The promotion also won Silver in the Stunt/PR category at the 2006 Media Innovation Awards and was a finalist at the 2006 Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival in the Best Use of Special Events and Stunts category.
Wendy’s Kick for a Million quarter-finalist bios
Eastern Canada Participant #1 – Paul Sinisi; Age: 28; Height: 6’1”; Weight: 255 lbs
A lifelong soccer player and fan, Paul hopes his kicking skills will transfer to the gridiron when he hits the field at Rogers Centre next Friday in the quarter-final round of Wendy’s Kick for a Million. Born and raised in Scarborough, ON, Paul, 28, currently lives in Ajax, ON where he works as a letter carrier for Canada Post. A self-proclaimed sports nut, Paul played running back for his high school football team at David and Mary Thomson Collegiate Institute, but his true love is soccer. A provincial champion in high school, Paul plays soccer regularly and cheers for Inter Milan but lists Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero as his favourite player. Paul will have plenty of motivation to do well in the competition as he and his wife are expecting their first child in February. Paul entered Wendy’s Kick for a Million every day during the promotion, amassing a total of 1,250 entries.
Eastern Canada Participant #2 – Paul Conway; Age: 40; Height: 5’10”; Weight: 170 lbs
A die-hard Hamilton Tiger-Cats fan since the mid-1980s and a season ticket holder for the past five seasons, Paul, 40, was born in Steeltown and currently resides in nearby Stoney Creek, ON. The married father of two works as a tech services field representative for St. Marys CBM and enjoys watching both CFL and NFL football in his spare time. Paul has some experience kicking field goals under pressure as he once split the uprights from 30 yards to win a bet with his friends. To hone his skills, Paul plans to train with University of Toronto special teams assistant and former CIS standout kicker, Derek Livingstone, leading up to the quarter-final event on Friday, Oct. 16. Paul submitted 1,153 entries for Wendy’s Kick for a Million.
Western Canada Participant #1 – Steven Olson; Age: 25; Height: 6’0”; Weight: 215 lbs
Born and raised in Edmonton, Steven, 25, continues to live in the City of Champions while he continues toward a Masters in Physics from the University of Alberta. Steven’s background in sports includes playing quarterback for his high school football team as well as taking part in campus flag football and recreational league hockey and basketball. Steven and his family are such passionate Edmonton Oliers fans that his parents gave him the middle name Wayne, after Wayne Gretzky. Steven is also a big fan of the Edmonton Eskimos and never misses a game on TSN. Steven entered Wendy’s Kick for a Million every day during the promotion and submitted 1,189 entries.
Western Canada Participant #2 – Murray Phillips; Age: 25; Height: 6’0”; Weight: 145 lbs
A 25-year-old International Business student at Mount Royal University, Murray was born in Kelowna, BC and settled in Calgary almost ten years ago. The married father of one plays recreational league softball in the summer months and lists mountain biking as his favourite sport. An admitted overly-enthusiastic supporter of his favourite teams, Murray has been known to paint his face with team colours when attending games in person. Murray was very excited to learn he had been named a Wendy’s Kick for a Million quarter-finalist as he rarely enters contests. Murray’s positive outlook and enthusiasm are sure to motivate him as he trains for the West quarter-final. Murray submitted a total of 151 entries for Wendy’s Kick for a Million.
Wendy’s Kick for a Million contest format
On October 16, the Eastern Canada participants will practice together at Rogers Centre in Toronto with Argonauts alumnus and former kicker, Lance Chomyk, while the Western Canada participants will receive a practice session at McMahon Stadium in Calgary with Stampeders kicker Sandro DeAngelis. Later that evening, the Eastern Canada participants will go head-to-head in a quarter-final event at halftime during the Edmonton @ Toronto game (begins at 7:30 p.m. ET). Similarly, the Western Canada participants will face off the following afternoon (October 17) at halftime during the Saskatchewan @ Calgary match-up (begins at 3 p.m. ET). The winner of the Eastern and Western Canada quarter-final events will move on to the Wendy’s Kick for a Million semifinal in Toronto.
In both quarter-final events, each participant will receive three kicks from distances of their choice, ranging from 15 to 50 yards. The participant will receive points equal to the distance (i.e.: 15 yards = 15 points) for each successful field goal, with their final kick being a Wendy’s Classic Double and worth double the points. The participant with the most points after three kicks moves on to the semifinal.
On October 22 (one day prior to the televised event), the winners of the Eastern and Western Canada quarter-finals w
ill compete against each other in the Wendy’s Kick for a Million semifinal at Rogers Centre, following the same format as the quarter-finals. However, each participant will receive a total of six kicks from distances (15-50 yards) of their choice with the participant tallying the most points after six kicks advancing to the final.
On October 23, the remaining participant will then Kick for a Million on live national television during the halftime show of CFL ON TSN: WENDY’S FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL featuring Hamilton @ Toronto (game starts at 7 p.m. ET). The participant will attempt to win outstanding prizes including the $1-million grand prize by kicking field goals from 20-, 30-, 40- and 50-yards. Prizes for this year’s Wendy’s Kick for a Million final event are bigger and better than ever leading up to the $1 million reward. For the first time ever, the participant is guaranteed to walk away a winner as they will receive $1,000 for every yard kicked in the air during the 50-yard kick attempt if it falls short of splitting the uprights for the $1-million grand prize. The prizes are as follows:
• 20 yards – $20,000 JVC Family Electronics Package
• 30 yards – 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster
• 40 yards – $100,000 cash
• 50 yards – $1-million in a one-time payout – if the 50-yard kick falls short, the participant will receive $1,000 for every yard kicked in the air