Stanley Cup playoffs - Calgary Flames star Matthew Tkachuk sends shout out to young Edmonton Oilers fan battling brain cancer

CALGARY, Alberta — Calgary Flames' forward Matthew Tkachuk has his tough-guy persona down on the ice.

In real life? Tkachuk's got a soft side. Even when it comes to the Battle of Alberta.

The Flames and Edmonton Oilers are currently locked into a heated second-round Stanley Cup playoff series, and the Oilers have had a special fan along for the ride. Ben Stelter is a five-year-old bravely undergoing treatment for glioblastoma, a kind of brain cancer. He's been offering Edmonton support — via dad Mike's social media channels — all season, meeting Oilers captain Connor McDavid and other players along the way.

Before a regular season matchup between the Flames and Oilers, Stetler playfully posted a video where he shot a photo of Tkachuk with a nerf gun.

Tkachuk didn't see the evidence of Stelter's hostility until after the Flames dismantled Edmonton, 9-6, in Game 1 on Wednesday. But it tickled Tkachuk, and he responded with a video message of his own for Ben on Thursday expressing his support for Stetler in his cancer fight:

«Hey Ben, I'm sure you're not the biggest fan of me,» Tkachuk began, «I could tell by the video of you shooting the Nerf gun at me. But everyone here in Calgary is cheering you on, and we're all big fans of you.»

We have been inspired by Ben Stelter's courage and strength — Matthew and the entire <a href=«https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flames?src=hash&ref_src=» https: www.espn.com>#Flames

family is rooting for you! ❤️<a href=«https://twitter.com/EdmontonOilers?ref_src=» https: www.espn.com>@EdmontonOilers | <a href=«https://twitter.com/m_dan25?ref_src=» https: www.espn.com>@m_dan25 pic.twitter.com/KQ88s4B7CY

Prior to Game 2 on Friday, Tkachuk detailed why it was important that he go the extra mile and show