Oilers mourn ‘dear friend’ Ben Stelter after battle with brain cancer

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Edmonton Oilers superfan Ben Stelter has died after a battle with most cancers, his father introduced Wednesday.

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The six-year-old boy was recognized with mind most cancers final 12 months and have become a beacon of positivity and perseverance for the workforce on and off the ice, particularly throughout the NHL playoffs.

“The world misplaced essentially the most particular boy and an absolute hero final evening. Ben, you had been the very best son we may ever hope for and also you had been my greatest bud ever. Your sisters had been so fortunate to have you ever as such a candy brother. You fought so lengthy and onerous and beat so many odds,” Ben’s father Mike Stelter wrote on Twitter.

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“You actually modified the world and did a lot good in your brief time right here. Mother and I are so pleased with you. You had a much bigger coronary heart than anybody we’ve ever met. Our hearts are left with a Ben-sized gap in them and life won’t ever be the identical with out you. We’re completely crushed.”

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In late March, Ben skated onto the ice at Rogers Place for the nationwide anthems and had the possibility to tour the workforce’s dressing room.

When the workforce confronted the Los Angeles Kings throughout the playoffs, Ben travelled to California to soak up the motion, giving every workforce member a fist bump earlier than they glided onto the ice.

In a press release, the Oilers stated Ben was a pricey good friend, No. 1 fan, and good luck allure.

“Ben got here into all of our lives at a time after we wanted some hope and inspiration. Though small in stature, Ben’s affect on our workforce and neighborhood was huge,” the assertion reads.

“At a time when he was going by way of his personal struggles together with his sickness, he and his household gave us their time and their friendship, permitting us to get to know Ben and be touched by his allure, his braveness and his infectious giggle. He was such an enormous a part of what made final season so particular to all of us and ceaselessly extra we are going to play La Bamba in his reminiscence.”

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The workforce handed on their honest condolences to Ben’s family members and stated he’ll ceaselessly be part of the Oilers household.

Oilers left-winger Evander Kane referred to as Ben a “true warrior” and inspiration.

“Your energy, willpower, braveness and love beamed by way of the hockey world and particularly our workforce. I’m going to overlook your fist pumps earlier than the video games,” Kane wrote on Twitter. “To the Stelter household, we ship our love and help.”

The hockey world and past have been providing condolences since information of Ben’s loss of life was made public.

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