Edmonton Oilers Jake Walman’s random act of kindness wins hearts ahead of Stanley Cup final

What started as a routine trip to pick up essentials quickly became a memory the Stephens family will never forget. While running errands with their three kids, the Stephens family happened upon an unexpected surprise in the trading card aisle—Edmonton Oilers defenseman Jake Walman, casually browsing like any other shopper. The chance encounter turned magical as Walman not only chatted with the kids about hockey and video games but surprised them with gifts—transforming a regular Friday into something straight out of a feel-good sports movie.Adam and Angela Stephens, along with their three children—Luke (9), Jake (7), and Emma (5)—were simply out shopping when their boys convinced them to swing by the trading card section. That’s where they met Walman, who was browsing through cards himself.“I was just kind of wandering around the store,” Adam told NHL.com. “And there is Jake Walman picking up a tin of cards. He was just waiting and he started up a conversation, just being a nice guy.”Walman, a known Pokémon fan, noticed the kids looking through the hockey cards and asked if they were Oilers supporters. When they answered yes and shared their favorite players—Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl—Walman playfully asked if they had heard of Jake Walman.“My son said, ‘My dad loves him, he was so happy when they traded for him,’” Adam recalled.What followed was a 10-minute conversation covering everything from Pokémon and Minecraft to, of course, hockey. With their parents' approval, Walman offered to buy each child a box of cards. For young Emma, who isn’t into trading cards, he picked out a Minecraft stuffed toy instead.“I like doing that stuff,” Walman later said. “I think we’re in a position to be able to do that kind of thing and make people’s day.”The story—and photo—quickly went viral, turning the Stephens kids into mini-celebrities at their school, Lakeland Ridge. Their snapshot with Walman is even set to be featured on the school's Oilers wall before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.“They all want his jersey now,” said Adam. “My daughter won't stop saying the name Jake Walman. She named her stuffed animal after him.”Also Read: Top NHL prospect Matthew Schaefer returns from injury ahead of 2025 draft