Young St. Albert hockey players will face off against their teachers this Friday to raise money for cancer research.
About 260 Grade 4–12 students with the St. Albert Public Schools Hockey Academy will be at Servus Credit Union Place this Dec. 6 for the third annual Hockey Academy Showcase. The event gives students a chance to show off their on-ice skills and raise money for the Ben Stelter Foundation.
The Ben Stelter Foundation was established in 2022 in memory of Ronald Harvey student and Oilers superfan Ben Stelter, who died from cancer that year at age six. The foundation raises money to support cancer research and cancer patients.
The academy showcase has been supporting the foundation almost since Day One, said academy hockey co-ordinator Mike Fiorillo — the first fundraiser/showcase happened the day after the foundation was announced. Today, the event helps students learn about the importance of giving back to their community.
Fiorillo said the showcase will see students play exhibition games against each other from 8:30 to 11:45 a.m. The feature game will see about 25 Grade 9 students face off against academy staff, and starts at 12:30 p.m.
While the students had youth on their side, Fiorillo said the staffers had experience and some former NHL members in their line-up.
“I think we’re feeling pretty good. We haven’t lost yet.”
Guests can watch the games by donating at least $2 to the Ben Stelter Foundation at the gate. Fiorillo said last year’s game had about a thousand people in the stands and raised close to $10,000 for the foundation.
Members of the Stelter family will once again open the staff vs. student game with a ceremonial puck drop.
St. Albert-area students have been an incredible help for the foundation, raising money through cake sales, penny carnivals, and other means, said Mike Stelter, the foundation’s executive director. Some were also competing in the Ben’s Cup tournament this Dec. 27–29, which has already raised some $180,000 for the foundation this year. Others were competing to win their school a visit from Oilers superstar Connor McDavid through the Ben Stelter School Fundraiser; the winning school will be picked this Dec. 6.
“Kids raising money for kids is really inspiring,” Stelter said, and really shows the depths of their hearts.
Stelter said donations collected at the hockey showcase will help fund the construction of the Ben Stelter Centre for Proton Therapy and Neuroscience, which is set to break ground next year.
Questions on the game should go to Fiorillo at [email protected]. Visit benstelterfoundation.com for information on the foundation.
