Fans invited to say bye to Ben Stelter at Oilers' home arena on Friday
Ben Stelter's fans and supporters are invited to a send-off for the six-year-old who died a week ago.
A procession in honour of the Oilers superfan who was diagnosed with brain cancer at four years old will travel by Rogers Place on Friday.
Organizer Ashif Mawji, a Stelter family friend, will drive his orange 2021 812 GTS Ferrari – featuring Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and, most recently, Ben's images – in the parade alongside several other "special guests."
He has arranged for police escorts and traffic control, as well as free posters for fans to wave from the sidewalks outside Ford Hall.
"We will have, I think, several hundred – if not thousand – fans that love Ben who will be there cheering," Mawji told CTV News Edmonton.
"We'll go very slowly, so you can wave, you can cheer, sing 'La Bamba,' play 'La Bamba.'"
Mawji met the Stelters during the pandemic when he was asked to drive by Ben's home in the Ferrari for the boy's fifth birthday.
Later, Mawji would facilitate Ben's first meeting with McDavid in 2021.
"We consider them part of our family. I just wanted to give Ben the send off that he deserves," Mawji explained on Wednesday.
He believes Ben would love the Friday plan.
"Sitting with him, I remember, in the Scotiabank Chairman's Club at Rogers, he would love to watch himself on any media, even on the screens, the jumbotron and stuff," Mawji recalled.
Edmontonians and NHL fans were introduced to Ben in the spring, when the Oilers named him their official "playoff ambassador."
He was honoured with his own licenced Oilers trading card, and the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation partnered with the Alberta Cancer Foundation and the Kids With Cancer Society during playoffs.
Ben quickly became known for his infectious smile, growly 'Play La Bamba, baby' call, and steadfast loyalty to Edmonton's NHL team.
"I think it's going to be very emotional on Friday. It's obviously a celebration of life; we want to be remembering all the joyful, and there's so many joyful moments from Ben," Mawji said.
He told CTV News Edmonton the Stelters are doing as well as they can.
"I'm a parent. I cannot imagine what they're going through internally. No matter how ready you are for something like that, you're never ready… They're a very strong family. They're very tight. They'll pull through this."
Anyone who plans to watch the procession is asked to arrive early to be outside Ford Hall by 9:45 a.m.
A livestream of the memorial service at 11:30 a.m. will be provided by Hope City Church at hopecity.ca/stream.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Jessica Robb
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.