Some people are just born winners. For Kelli Zdeno Laverdure, that might literally be true.
More than two decades after her father won a massive radio contest by naming his newborn daughter after Senators defenceman Zdeno Chara, Kelli has added another prize to the family trophy case.
A brand new car.
Hockey Fights Cancer Champion Matthew Schaefer helped a contestant win a brand new car and raise money for Hyundai's Hope on Wheels Program!
— NHL (@NHL) October 18, 2026
Don't miss the NHL takeover of #ThePriceisRightTonight tomorrow at 8 PM ET on @City_tv, or stream it on Citytv+! pic.twitter.com/GzTWlK4Mnw
Laverdure will appear on The Price Is Right Tonight as part of a special NHL-themed episode airing Monday night on Citytv. And thanks to an advance promotional post from the NHL, we already know she's going home with new wheels while raising money to help fight kids' cancer.
For those unfamiliar with the backstory, Kelli's father, Gary Laverdure, was the winner of a 2002 contest on Ottawa's sports radio station, then known as Team 1200.
At the time, I was the co-host on the morning show, and our contest challenged listeners to prove they were the "Ultimate Sens Fan" by completing various tasks.
One of the challenges was to name a newborn baby after a Senators player. Middle names were acceptable. Gary took us up on it, naming his daughter Kelli Zdeno Laverdure after the towering Senators defenceman.
The decision helped him win a prize package valued at $50,000, including Senators season tickets, playoff tickets, and a road trip to Toronto.
When I revisited the story over 20 years later, it was because "Baby Chara" was now graduating.
Gary told me that Kelli grew up not being particularly fond of her unusual middle name. But that changed as she got little older, especially after the 2012 NHL All-Star Game in Ottawa when Chara was captain of one of the teams. That suddenly made her middle name a lot cooler.
It even felt like providence at her graduation that Daniel Alfredsson was being celebrated at the same time with an honorary degree from the University of Ottawa.
Now she remains a big fan of Chara, a huge Sens fan, and loves the story behind her name.
And apparently, that name is still opening doors.
"I think a big reason she got picked was The Hockey News article you posted about her middle name being Zdeno," Gary told me on Sunday. "They even announced her as Kelli Zdeno Laverdure!"
The special episode features the NHL teaming up with the popular game show, with Hockey Fights Cancer champion Matthew Schaefer helping out. When Kelli won the car with a roll of the dice, Schaefer seemed just as excited as she was, even jumping in the car with her to ride shotgun.
Gary was delighted by his daughter's latest big win, and because the show was taped in Toronto, Kelli made sure to represent her hometown team in enemy territory.
"Of course, with the show being taped in Toronto, she had to wear a Ridly Greig jersey to troll Leafs fans," Gary said. "She made her daddy proud!"
You can watch the NHL's takeover of The Price is Right Tonight Monday at 8 PM on Citytv or stream it on Citytv+. You can learn more abut Hyundai Hope on Wheels: Fighting Kids' Cancer here.
By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa