Ben was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer, in March 2021 before having surgery, four rounds of chemotherapy and 30 sessions of radiation treatment later that month.
On March 24 of this year, he joined McDavid and the Oilers for their game against the San Jose Sharks as the Scotiabank Skater. Before the game, He lined up alongside McDavid for the national anthems and gave fist bumps. He later attended a postgame press conference with forward Zach Hyman following Edmonton's 5-2 win.
"Athletes have an impact on kids but Ben had such a great impact on our team and myself, even in the short time we knew him," McDavid said on Thursday. "Just such an amazing kid, so strong, so brave. When you watch anyone go through that, especially when you're 5 or 6 years old, it was truly inspiring. He was such a fighter. Just an awful, awful day."
Stelter rejoined the Oilers on April 28 for the morning skate and afterward was presented his own Upper Deck 'Heroic Inspirations' card by McDavid. The card was an officially licensed trading card, with 4,000 printed to be given to the Oilers and the Stelter family.
"Ben you're a true warrior and are such a inspiration to all of us," Edmonton forward Evander Kane wrote on Twitter. "Your strength, determination, courage and love beamed through the hockey world and especially our team. I'm going to miss your fist pumps before the games. To the Stelter family we send our love and support."
During the Oilers run to the Western Conference Final, Mike would post video of Ben saying, "Play La Bamba, baby" after each win, an ode to their victory song, which was inspired by their longtime locker room attendant Joey Moss, who died at age 57 on Oct. 26, 2020.
"Out in public or when we're at the games, people will run up and say, 'Hey Ben, play La Bamba, baby!'" Mike told NHL.com in June. "They often try to get him to say that, but he usually only says it after the Oilers win. But he laughs every time, wherever we go, and someone asks him to say it.
"He knows it's the Oilers win song, and he knows it was Joey Moss' favorite song and that's why they do it. And he knows that after every win they play that at Rogers Place and they play it in the dressing room, too.
"He loves all of that."
Condolences poured in from around the hockey world on social media, including from the Calgary Flames, the Oilers' fierce rival in the Battle of Alberta, and the Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche.
"We are mourning the passing of our dear friend, number one #Oilers fan, good luck charm & inspiration, Ben Stelter," the Oilers wrote on Twitter. "Although small in stature, Ben's impact on our team & community were massive.
"Play La Bamba, baby."
