 Jorma Hogbacka, 60, shows off his happy dance at OLG headquarters yesterday. (Sun Media/Ernest Doroszuk)
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TORONTO -- For a guy who just won $14.8 million, you'd think Jorma Hogbacka would be a little more excited.
But standing in front of reporters yesterday at the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation's prize office, Hogbacka said he wasn't surprised because it was in the stars.
"Four years ago, (a psychic) sent me a letter that said 'You'll be rich beyond your wildest dream'," he said. "It feels like another day, except I have a big cheque."
A semi-retired welder, Hogbacka, 60, of St. Catharines, was one of three winners of Saturday's 6/49 $44.4 million prize -- the third largest jackpot in Canadian history. Two other $14.8-million tickets purchased in the GTA have not yet been claimed.
Hogbacka, a lotto player for 25 years, said he's going to give $30,000 to five female ex-employees of Tim Horton's from his hometown, just for getting his coffee orders right.
"I promised them, but do you think they believed me?" he said.
Hogbacka said he's going to take some time to travel and maybe spend a bit on a new car. He also plans on helping out his two sisters in Parry Sound and Huntsville.
Hogback's brother-in-law, Jarma Kokko, 58, said he got a call from him yesterday telling him about the win and that he needed a ride to Toronto.
"He's been saying this for 20 years -- that he's going to win one day -- and it happened."
