Over $500K raised in 1st ever ‘Ben’s Cup’

Hockey fans could be seen showing up for the final day of the Ben’s Cup — just east of Edmonton — all in the name of Oilers’ superfan Ben Stelter.

The first annual tournament got 32 U11 and U13 teams across Alberta competing mainly for bragging rights, but also raising money for the Ben Stelter Foundation.

“Kids can’t be underestimated. Once they put their mind towards something they’re determined. They knocked it out of the park,” said Mike Stelter, Ben’s dad.

Ben was an Oilers superfan who died from a rare form of brain cancer in 2022.

In order to play in this tournament, U11 and U13 teams had to hit the pavement and raise money. Some did it in some unique ways.

“My name is Brady Samson and I’m from the St. Paul Canadiens U11 team 1 hockey team,” said one player who appealed to Facebook for help, and his mom posted the video. He and his teammate Brady Dechaine managed to raise over $8,000, making them all-stars.

“I collected bottles and we went to cash them in and got donations from all my friends of family,” they said.

One of the top earners was Niall O Brien Buckley of the Leduc Roughnecks, who raked in $10,375.

The top 45 earners got to play in an all-star game Saturday night.

All the money raised goes toward the Ben Stelter Centre for proton therapy and neurosciences, an advanced type of cancer treatment that Canada does not have access to.

“Hundreds of Albertans every year have to travel to the united states for this treatment. This is the recommended treatment and we don’t have it,” said Mike Stelter.

While over 500 players are scoring goals, winning medals, and lifting trophies, it’s the thousands of dollars going toward a good cause that would make Ben proud.

“Ben would be pretty pumped. He’d be running around, trying to help everyone, make sure everyone is having a good time. But, he’d have such a good feeling knowing that this is going to help so many people,” said Mike Stelter.