What started as anger from Edmonton Oilers fans against the Dallas Stars’ in-house DJ has now sparked millions of dollars in donations to important causes.
In the past four days alone, Dallas Stars fans have donated more than $20,000 to the Ben Stelter Foundation, which was established in memory of 6-year-old Oilers superfan Ben Stelter, who died of cancer in August 2022, said Mike Stelter, the foundation’s executive director and Ben’s father. Dallas Morning News.
The donation came on the heels of controversy following the playing of the Ritchie Valens song “La Bamba” after Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals at the American Airlines Center on Saturday.
Stars DJ Jonathan “Sippy” Shipman played the Oilers victory song after a Stars win in an attempt to poke fun at the team, without realizing what the song meant to the franchise.
The song is a tribute to late Oilers locker room attendants Joey Moss and Stelter.
Moss, who was born with Down Syndrome, began working for the Oilers as a part-time attendant from 1982 to 1983, recommended by Wayne Gretzky, and became a full-time employee from 1984 to 1985. He served in that position until his death in October 2020 at the age of 57.
“La Bamba” was his favorite song, and at the start of the 2021-22 season the Oilers announced they would play the song after every home win at Rogers Place in his honor.
That season, Stelter, who was battling glioblastoma at the time, coined the post-game victory catchphrase “Play La Bamba,” which became a motto for the team and fans. He died on August 9, 2022, at the age of 6.
Shipman posted a public apology on Twitter on Sunday, sharing that he had donated to the Ben Stelter Foundation and encouraging other Stars fans to do the same.
This has resulted in a lot of support from the Dallas area.
“The response from Dallas Stars fans has been incredibly overwhelming,” Mike Stelter said. news In an email, he said, “We understand Shippy played La Bamba to poke fun at the rivalry and we bear no ill will towards him or the organization. Ben understands sports rivalries better than most and would have enjoyed it. Thank you Dallas Stars fans! This series was a fun rivalry between both teams! I think both fanbases enjoyed it. Go Oilers!”
Ben would have turned eight on Monday.
The Ben Stelter Foundation helps create positive experiences for children battling cancer, relieves the financial burden for families who need advanced medical equipment in their homes, and funds research and investments in projects seeking treatments and cures.
To donate to the Foundation, click here.
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