'He would be so proud': Kids lace up for three-day non-stop hockey game to raise money for Ben Stelter Fund
Dozens of kids from the Edmonton area are pulling shifts on the ice over the weekend, playing hockey to help kids that can't.
The puck dropped on the Kid's World's Longest Hockey Game Friday morning, with 80 players between 11 and 16 years old preparing to play around the clock for three days to raise money for the Ben Stelter Fund.
"It's awesome," said Mike Stelter, Ben's father. "It's going to be just full of excitement, it's going to be really good."
The game is taking place at Saiker's Acres in Sherwood Park and was organized by owner Brent Saik and Stelter and inspired by the World's Longest Hockey Game fundraiser.
"Nobody signs up for what their family signed up for," Saik said. "The process that they're doing, what they're doing it for is obviously incredible, and the fact that I have this little pond that we can play on. . . I'm in. It's amazing."
Money raised at the game will go directly to research for glioblastoma. It's the cancer Ben died of last year.
"It's been the same treatment since 1970, so we're trying to put money into that to get better treatments and hopefully find a cure one day," Stelter said.
The kids will play on two teams in four-hour shifts eight hours apart for more than 50 straight hours.
"If you want to see 11-year-olds play the best hockey of their life, it'll be four in the morning today," Saik said. "This will be one of the biggest times of their life, I promise."
"If you could see what's going on in that dressing room with those kids, they're doing it because some kids can't," he added.
At least one player on the ice shares a special connection with the cause.
Novak Ribich, a 13-year-old right wing, is Ben's cousin and shares his passion for hockey.
"He was the best cousin I could ever wish for," Ribich said. "I think he would be so proud and so freaked out that they're doing all this for him."
But, despite many players donning special Ben Stelter 22 jerseys, Stelter said the game is bigger than just his family.
"It is really special for us, and it's special that it's not just for Ben," Stelter said. "They're here to support all kids fighting it right now and other kids that unfortunately passed away as well."
Benjamin Shaw, a 14-year-old centre, said he's excited to play the game he loves and raise money for a good cause.
"I think it's going to be a lot of fun," Shaw said. "There's going to be times when you're cold and tired, but I think we're going to push through it for the kids in the Stollery that we're raising money for."
Donations can be made online at the event's website. Stelter said people can also show support by getting out to the game and cheering on the teams in person.
"These are pretty special kids, and the fact that they're thinking about this – that they're thinking about kids in the hospital right now that would love to be out here but can't, is huge," he said. "We're hoping people will come out this weekend and help support the kids so they can beat their target."
The fundraiser surpassed its $250,000 goal with $273,501 raised.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Jessica Robb
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'The best that we can be': Indigenous judge and TRC chair Murray Sinclair dies at 73
Murray Sinclair, who was born when Indigenous people did not yet have the right to vote, grew up to become one of the most decorated and influential people to work in Indigenous justice and advocacy.
India's Modi, Canada's Trudeau condemn violence at Hindu temple near Toronto
The prime ministers of India and Canada condemned violence that broke out on Sunday at a Hindu temple near Toronto at a time of escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
She was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes about a year ago. Here's how her condition was reversed
A year ago, Lorraine O'Quinn was coping with stress, chronic illness and Type 2 diabetes. Then she discovered a health program that she says changed her life.
Frustration over Mideast war in America's largest Arab-majority city may push some away from Democrats
As an ongoing part of Omar on the Road: America Decides 2024, CTV National News visited the University of Michigan-Dearborn campus to talk to Arab-American students about why they’re feeling left out of the Democrats’ tent.
3 people arrested after incident during protest at Hindu temple in Brampton, Ont.: Peel police
Peel Regional Police say three people are in custody as they continue to investigate an incident during a demonstration at a Hindu temple in Brampton on Sunday.
Judge rules against Alberta casino, dinner theatre operator
An application to stay a receivership order of Mayfield Investments Ltd., a company that owns multiple businesses in Alberta including the Camrose Resort and Casino, Medicine Hat Lodge and Calgary's Stage West Dinner Theatre, has been denied by the court.
'Giving women agency over their health': How innovative solutions are filling the gaps in Canadian menopause care
In a 2022 survey conducted by Leger Canada for the Menopause Foundation of Canada, about 46 per cent of women said they don't feel prepared for menopause, even though they know it's coming. At a time when tech-savvy millennials are starting their menopausal journeys, some tech entrepreneurs are stepping up with potential solutions to long-standing health-care deficiencies.
Ikea will pay 6 million euros to East German prisoners forced to build their furniture in landmark move
Furniture giant Ikea has agreed to pay 6 million euros (US$6.5 million) towards a government fund compensating victims of forced labour under Germany's communist dictatorship, in a move campaigners hope will pressure other companies to follow.
Police arrest Netanyahu aide as opponents accuse him of leaking intelligence to thwart Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal
Israeli police have arrested a top aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over allegedly leaking classified information to foreign media.