April 11, 2011 -- Jim Armstrong of Hamden spent many of his early years in the chilly confines of ice skating rinks, first as a goaltender in the Eastern Hockey League and later, as head coach for the Quinnipiac University Bobcats.  Recently, however, Armstrong found just the ticket to heat things up without getting a penalty—he and his wife, Judy, are planning a vacation to a warmer locale, all thanks to winning the $100,000 top prize in the CT Lottery’s Cash5 draw game on March 22, 2011.

The Cash5 winning numbers drawn on March 22 were 12 - 16 - 30 - 32 – 35.  A total of 3,738 winning tickets were sold statewide on that date whose values ranged from $2 to $100,000 each.  

Recently, Armstrong stopped at Snack Plus II, located on 75 Putnam Avenue in Hamden, to buy lottery ticket, but first scanned a ticket he had previously purchased in the lottery Ticket Checker.  “I ran it through the Ticket Checker two times; both times it said I was a $100,000 winner.  It was absolutely unbelievable,” Armstrong told lottery officials.   

Jim and Judy, who will be celebrate 46 years of marriage later this month, arrived at CT Lottery headquarters in Rocky Hill last week to accept a prize check for $68,500 (the prize value after taxes). “We’ll pay bills, and share some with our children and grandchildren.  Then, we’d really like to take a cruise to Bermuda.  We love Bermuda,” said Armstrong.

For selling Armstrong his top prize winning ticket, Snack Plus II will receive a $1,000 selling bonus from the CT Lottery.