Edmonton Oilers remember young fan Ben Stelter: ‘So strong, so brave, such a fighter’

Members of the Edmonton Oilers shared their grief and their memories of a special fan Thursday, after six-year-old Ben Stelter passed away following a battle with brain cancer.

Members of the Edmonton Oilers shared their grief and their memories of a special fan Thursday, after six-year-old Ben Stelter passed away following a battle with brain cancer.

“He was an amazing little guy who lit up every room he was in,” Oilers captain Connor McDavid said.

“This is a very tough day for entire Oilers family, all the fans, but most importantly, the family,” he said. “It’s just a terrible day and we’re thinking about the entire Stelter family.”

When he was four, Ben was diagnosed with glioblastoma — an aggressive type of brain cancer. He underwent surgery to remove the tumour, as well as several rounds of chemotherapy and dozens of radiation sessions. However, last December, the tumour returned and Ben began more rounds of radiation treatments over the winter.

His family revealed he passed away Tuesday night.

“The world lost the most special boy and an absolute hero last night,” his dad Mike Stelter said in a statement posted to Twitter on Wednesday. “Ben, you were the best son we could ever hope for and you were my best bud ever.

“Our hearts are left with a Ben-sized hole in them and life will never be the same without you. We are absolutely crushed. We love you our sweet Benny boy.”