Nate Smith, 11, and his dad, Pat Smith, second from right, pose for a photo on Aug. 11, 2011, after the boy sank a trick shot during a charity hockey game in Faribault, Minn. Aug. 11, 2011.Brendan Burnett-Kurie
Here's an ethical issue: Your 11-year-old son makes a one-in-a-million hockey shot and wins a $50,000 jackpot. But the raffle ticket that gave him the chance is in his twin brother's name. Do you fess up?
Earlier this year, young Nate Smith stunned an arena crowd by shooting a puck from centre ice through a hole at the goal line that was three and half inches wide. (A puck is three inches.)
But, it turned out, the ticket was in his brother Nick's name. Nick had stepped out of the arena and told his brother to take the shot if his name was called, never expecting that to happen. The family signed the papers to accept the cash award at the arena that day.
Overnight, Pat Smith, the boys' father, had second thoughts and called organizers back to explain what had happened.
This week, the company that insured the event, Odds on Promotions, decided that Nate couldn't have the cash, part of which he planned to put toward college and part of which he planned to donate. Instead, he and his brother will get three weeks at hockey camp, and the event sponsors donated $20,000 toward youth hockey in Minnesota.
"We did the right thing," Mr. Smith told ABCNews.com. "I just think that honesty is more important than any prize or money you could get."'
Would you come clean or pocket the cash? Should the company have let Nate have the money anyway?
Erin Anderssen