Oilers superfan Ben Stelter dies
Ben Stelter has died. His father made the announcement on social media on Wednesday.
Ben, who suffered from glioblastoma, was an Oilers superfan who won the hearts of Edmonton fans everywhere during the playoffs.
The team donated proceeds from 50/50 ticket sales from the first round of playoffs to Kids with Cancer Society in his honour, and he was even awarded his own trading card by Connor McDavid.
"Today our heart aches for Bens’ family. He was a very special boy who truly defined the word hero. We will never forget his sweet smile, radiant personality proudly cheering on his beloved Oilers, with Mickey Mouse always by his side," said Val Figliuzzi of the Kids with Cancer Society in a written statement.
The Oilers reacted to the news of Ben's death on Wednesday:
St. Albert Public Schools has lowered flags at all their schools, including at Ronald Harvey Elementary, where he was a student.
"Ben was a Kindergarten student at Ronald Harvey Elementary School and a leader in the greater community as we all cheered on the Oilers during their recent playoff run. He touched so many lives and showed us all how to be brave and strong in the most difficult times. Our thoughts are with Ben's family, loved ones, and the Ronald Harvey school community," a statement from the board reads.
Ben was six years old.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What's a Barnacle? It's yellow, sticks and screams if you try to pry it off your car
Barnacles, bright yellow devices used to make sure parking scofflaws pay their tickets, could soon be making their way to cities across Canada.
They were from different countries and barely spoke each other's languages. More than 20 years later, they're still happily in love
He decided to spend Christmas somewhere that wouldn't involve snowstorm disasters. She was spending the holidays with family, travelling for the first time outside of her native country of Venezuela. 23 years later, they're still in love.
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
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.
Verdun Airbnb listing taken down amid complaints, fines and frustration from neighbours
An Airbnb in Montreal's Verdun borough was the source of much frustration from neighbours who say there were constant parties at the location. It has been taken down from the app, but housing advocates remain upset about short-term rentals.
Fire in Labrador town under control, officials tells residents to stay away
RCMP say the fire that prompted a state of emergency in a Labrador town is now under control.
12 students and teacher killed in Columbine school shooting remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
Thirteen victims of the Columbine High School shooting were remembered during a vigil Friday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the shooting that was the worst the nation had seen at the time.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.
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.