NHL: Edmonton Oilers at Minnesota Wild – Source: Imagn

Connor McDavid made an appearance at Ottewell School on Friday. As part of the Ben Stelter School Fundraiser campaign, held from November 18 to December 5, 10 schools across Edmonton and nearby areas collectively helped raise thousands of dollars.

McDavid praised the students for raising funds for the Ben Stelter Foundation.

“Kids helping kids, kids raising money for such a great cause truly is an amazing thing”

The foundation established in the memory of Ben Stelter, a six-year-old kid who died while battling glioblastoma, supports kids and their families fighting cancer along with providing research funds for cancer.

The foundation, which fights childhood cancer with Connor McDavid as its brand ambassador, has been organizing school fundraisers for three years consecutively.

In the inaugural year, with only 1 school participating around $11,000 was raised; the following year, the number of schools participating increased to 5 and total funds raised to $43,000. This year, the number of schools participating doubled, and the total funds raised surged to $74,000.

As part of the campaign this year, each of the 10 schools that participated earned a ballot for Connor McDavid’s visit, with every school earning an additional ballot on every $1,000 raised. Ottwell school, which won the visit from Connor McDavid, raised around $2,400. Notably, the highest amount raised was by Sturgeon County, totaling $16,225.

Connor McDavid was warmly welcomed by hundreds of school kids singing Ben’s favorite song, “La Bamba,” as he took center stage at the Ottewell School gymnasium.

“It’s raised more money than the year previous. I think $74,000 is fantastic and I think all the schools that participated should be proud, Ottewell too. Everybody did amazing work and it was for a great cause in memory of Ben Stelter and his name,” McDavid said at the Ottwell.

Edmonton Oilers’ CEO sheds light on Connor McDavid’s contract situation

NHL: Edmonton Oilers at Minnesota Wild – Source: Imagn

Jeff Jackson, President and CEO of hockey operations for the Edmonton Oilers, shed light on three-time MVP and captain Connor McDavid’s contract situation. McDavid, who has amassed 40 points in 26 games, is the prime force behind Oilers 7-1 in their last 8 games.

“Connor has the rest of this year and then another year,” Jackson told media.

“We’re not getting into contract discussions at all at this point. I have a good relationship with Connor that goes way back (as his former agent). We have a good relationship with Judd Moldaver, who is his agent now. And when it’s time and appropriate, we will sit down and start chatting. But that’s not now. And it probably won’t be until the end of the season, to be honest.”

With a year and the remainder of the season left on his current contract, Connor McDavid is eligible for a contract extension this summer.