Dad builds his son an Oilers Zamboni over his wheelchair for Halloween
Easton Oetting is a Halloween superstar, and he's just five years old. This year he'll be rolling the streets in style as an Edmonton Oilers Zamboni driver.
It's not the first hit costume for the boy from Sarnia, Ont.
He was the grandpa from the Pixar/Disney movie Up! He's been a hot dog vendor and a skid steer operator, all custom-made to fit his walker or wheelchair.
"We do a costume for him every year and we kinda want to top it for the next year," his dad DJ Oetting explained to CTV News Edmonton.
Easton Oetting's Halloween costumes (Credit Steph Oetting).
Born and raised in Ontario, DJ became a diehard Oilers fan after his aunt and uncle moved to Alberta.
Edmonton's run to the Western Conference Finals earlier this year became special bonding time for the family.
"For the Oilers playoff run, me and my son were doing daily gameday outfits and so I was just kinda thinking how I can bring the Oilers into the mix and we decided to try the Zamboni," he said while wearing a Connor McDavid jersey, just like his son.
Easton has a rare genetic disorder. He is mostly non-verbal and he can't walk. So DJ, a handyman, builds the costumes himself.
"Last year he was a skid steer operator, and I basically just used one-inch foam insulation and I glued it and screwed it all together and painted it afterwards. So I kinda had the same idea (this year)," DJ said.
The Zamboni took about five hours to build, plus painting time.
The NHL's social media team called it the costume of the year.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Evan Kenny
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Manitoba mom praises quick-thinking fire department for freeing daughter stuck in playground equipment
A Manitoba mother is praising firefighters for their quick work in helping her daughter who got stuck at a playground in Lorette, Man.