Mill worker wins $1m hockey prize

A Canadian sawmill worker has won $1m (€670,000) by scoring 15 goals within 24 seconds in an ice hockey half-time challenge.

35-year-old Darwin Head from Saskatchewan in western Canada fired 15 out of 20 pucks from the far blue line into an empty net.

The challenge took place during the intermission of a Vancouver Canucks-Colorado Avalanche game, before a sell-out crowd of 18,630 and a national television audience.

'It's a little hard to comprehend', Mr Head said afterwards.

He was chosen from 8.6m entries to participate in the promotion. He said he had practiced for two hours every night in his backyard in bone-chilling weather for the event.

Mr Head, who is only the second Canadian to win a million-dollar sports skills contest, said he planned to use the money to pay off his mortgage and save for his children's future.

He also said he would keep his job at the sawmill.

In 2006, an Ontario native won the same prize after he kicked a 50-yard field goal during half time at a Canadian Football League game.

Seven new millionaires in the United States also won such contests at American football, soccer, basketball and baseball matches.