Lastman paid back the soldiers by giving them each a free NHL Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey pass in honour of their hard work. These tickets were obtained free of charge due to an agreement with the Toronto Maple Leafs' management claiming that if these soldiers had not come out to shovel the snow, then the Leafs game that day wouldn't have had as many people attending. Ten years later, in 2009, Lastman gave an interview to the "Toronto Star" newspaper, stating he is proud of his decision to bring in the army during the Blizzard of 1999.