Ben Stelter.Photo: Mike Stelter/Twitter
TheEdmonton Oilersare mourning the loss of six-year-old superfan Ben Stelter, who the team called a “dear friend, number one fan, good luck charm and inspiration.”
Ben’s father, Mike Stelter,confirmed his son’s passing in a tweetWednesday afternoon. “The world lost the most special boy and an absolute hero last night. Ben, you were the best son we could ever hope for and you were my best bud ever,” Mike wrote.
According to ESPN, Ben was diagnosed with a form of brain cancer just before his 5th birthday, and underwent multiple surgeries and rounds of chemotherapy.
The Oilersreleased their own statement Wednesday, offering condolences to Ben’s family and paying tribute to the boy’s contribution to their team. “Ben came into all of our lives at a time when we needed some hope and inspiration,” the statement read. “Although small in stature, Ben’s impact on our team and community was massive.”
Ben first met his favorite hockey team in March, when the Oilers invited him to attend their game against the San Jose Sharks. The Edmonton team decked Ben out in his own custom jersey and had him fist bump each player as they walked to the locker room.
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And as the Oilers fought through the 2022 NHL playoffs, reaching the conference finals for the first time since 2006, they kept Ben in mind.
Ben Stelter and Edmonton Oilers.The Edmonton Oilers
They also posted a tribute to Ben on the team’s Instagram account, with footage of his time with Oilers players on the rink and in the locker room. “Obviously, Ben is as big an Oilers fan as you’re going to see,” said the Oilers' star centerConnor McDavid, in an interview before Ben’s death. “It’s an absolutely tragic situation and you know, something that you can’t really wrap your head around. He’s such a good little guy.”
McDavid added, “You never want to see a kid go through something like that. Any joy that we could bring him was always worth it.”
source: people.com
